Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

-ee

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.61 in modern English

Syllables: -ee
IPA

2

Scrabble Score

2

Letters

2

Syllables

1

Unique Chars

Meaning

suffix

Added to transitive verbs to form words meaning a person or thing that is the object of that verb (i.e., to whom or to which an action is done).

suffix

Added to intransitive verbs to form words meaning a person or thing that is the subject of that verb (that is, who or that does an action).

suffix

Used to form words meaning a person who is the other party to a contract or other transaction involving a person described by the corresponding word ending in -or.

suffix

Used to form words meaning a person who has undergone a particular medical procedure.

suffix

Irregularly added to nouns to mean a person somehow associated with the object denoted by the noun.

suffix

Used to form diminutives.

suffix

Used in mimicking English as stereotypically spoken by the Chinese.

Derogatory; Offensive

suffix

Alternative form of -y (infinitive suffix).

Example Sentences

"examine + -ee → examinee"
"interview + -ee → interviewee"
"train + -ee → trainee"
"employ + -ee → employee"
"absent + -ee → absentee"
"respond + -ee → respondee"

Etymology

From Middle English -ee, -ē, from Anglo-Norman and Old French -ee, French -é, -ée, endings forming past participle of verbs ending in -er. Doublet of -ate. More distantly related to inherited English -ed.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: -ee, -, -é

Usage

Inflected Forms

-ees (plural)

Phrases

no tickee, no washee

Frequently Paired Words

no tickee, no washee

Synonyms

-ed -cule -el -et -ette -icle -ie -kin -le -let -ling -ole

Antonyms

-er -or super- supra- hyper- ultra- uber- macro- arch- over- mega- giga-

Questions

What does -ee mean?: Added to transitive verbs to form words meaning a person or thing that is the object of that verb (i.e., to whom or to which an action is done).
Where does -ee come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce -ee

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