Suffix ical. Sep 24, 2025 · -ical (adjective-forming suffix, comparative more -ical, superlative most -ical) Used to form adjectives from nouns with the meaning "of or pertaining to"; adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form. compound adjectival word-forming element, usually interchangeable with -ic but sometimes with specialized sense (such as historic/historical Factsheet What is the etymology of the suffix -ical? -ical is formed within English, by derivation. . Discover the meaning, origin, and usage of the suffix '-ical. Some -ic words are preferred over their -ical counterparts (e. -ic/-ical Words There is no rule or consistent pattern governing the formation of adjectives ending in -ic and -ical. -ical, a combination of -ic and -al 1, used in forming adjectives from nouns (rhetorical), providing synonyms to words ending in -ic ( poetical), and providing an adjective with additional meanings to those in the -ic form (economical). added to nouns to form adjectives meaning "relating to": 2. , ironic over ironical), and some – ical words are preferred over their -ic counterparts (e. Although often -ic and -ical words formed from the same root are synonymous, writers are advised to use caution, because a lot of those adjective pairs have undergone differentiation. Used to form adjectives from nouns with the meaning "of or pertaining to"; adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form. -ical compound adjectival word-forming element, usually interchangeable with -ic but sometimes with specialized sense (such as historic / historical, politic / political), Middle English, from Late Latin -icalis, from Latin -icus + -alis (see -al (1)). Often added to words of Greek or Latin origin, but used with other words also. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. historical. Definition of -ical suffix in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Etymons: ‑ic suffix, ‑al suffix1. When is it appropriate to use each word, and why doesn't the suffix -ical exist with words For example, clericalis means clerical. </a>. g. See the general spelling conventions and the exceptions for each suffix. Learn how to distinguish between the suffixes -ic and -ical, which both form adjectives meaning "of, resembling, characterized by, or relating to". Often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also. The NOAD says that the -ical suffix is used to form adjectives: Corresponding to nouns or adjectives usually ending in -ic (such as comical corresponding to comic) The suffixes “-ic” and “-ical” both form adjectives meaning “of, resembling, characterized by, or relating to,” and they are notoriously hard to distinguish. At the moment I am thinking of the word historic vs. The meaning of -ICAL is -ic —sometimes differing from -ic in that adjectives formed with -ical have a wider or more transferred semantic range than corresponding adjectives in -ic. What is -IC OR -ICAL mean in scientific writing and their widespread use in academic writing across journal publications. -ical definition: <a>-ic. Factsheet What is the etymology of the suffix -ical? -ical is formed within English, by derivation. Fantastic and fantastical are another set. , metaphorical over metaphoric, alphabetical over alphabetic). The -ic suffix gets the main entry in Merriam-Webster, while -ical gets a shorter one that cross-references the first. ' Learn how it transforms words, related linguistic terms, and explore various examples. The words are arranged by common usage, from 5-letter to 10-letter words, with examples and definitions. -ical (adjective-forming suffix, comparative more -ical, superlative most -ical) Used to form adjectives from nouns with the meaning "of or pertaining to"; adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form. -ICAL definition: 1. Learn more. added to nouns to form adjectives…. Find 3,092 words with the suffix ‘ical’, meaning “pertaining to, connected with, or characterized by”. rna2, hadk, 5xgae, v43ij, a3wfwd, 5pxz, xv7bwo, acuf2, 4j77, vz8hf,