-an

Alternative forms

• -ian (euphonic variant, also spelled -aean or -æan)
• -n (when added to a word ending in a)

Etymology

From Middle English -an, regularly -ain, -ein, -en, from Old French -ain, -ein, or before i, -en (modern French -ain, -en, feminine -aine, -enne), from Latin -ānus (feminine -āna), which forms adjectives of belonging or origin from a noun, being -nus [cognate with Ancient Greek -νος (-nos)] preceded by a vowel, from Proto-Indo-European *-nós. Cognate with English -en. Compare with -in, -ine.

Suffix

-an

1. Of or pertaining to; an adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form. (Often added to words of Latin origin, but also used with words of other origins. When a word ends in a, -n is used instead.)

   Synonyms: -al, -ar, -ese, -esque, -ic, -id, -ish, -like, -oid, -ous, -y

   ‎Rome + ‎-an → ‎Roman

2. Appended to nouns to form an agent noun. (When males with a profession are distinguished from females, males are -an, females -(i)enne.)

   ‎comedy + ‎-an → ‎comedian

   ‎history + ‎-an → ‎historian

Anagrams

• n.a., NA, -na, N/A, N.A., n/a, Na, na

Suffix

-an

1. Postconsonantal form of -ən after the vowels A / I / O / U.

Etymology

From Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Suffix

-an

1. a place where a large quantity of the thing meant by the root is put, planted, or can be found

   ‎basura (“trash”) + ‎-an → ‎basurahan (“trash can”)

2. a place where the action expressed by the root is performed

   ‎kawat (“play”) + ‎-an → ‎kawatan (“playground”)

Alternative forms

• -han

Etymology

From Proto-Philippine *-an, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *-an, from Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /an/

Suffix

-an (verb-forming suffix, inchoative gi- -an, contemplative -an, imperative -i, negative -i)

1. locative trigger verb suffix; to do at, in, on a place

   palitan nako ang tindahan og kendi

   I will buy candy at the store (store is focused.)

   1. directive verb suffix; to do at, towards someone

      gikataw-an niya ang lalaki ― he laughed at the man

   2. partitive verb suffix; to do to a part of something

      gikuhaan niyag gamay ang keyk ― he took a little of the cake.

2. benefactive trigger verb suffix; to do something for someone/something else

   palitan nako ang bata og keyk

   I will buy cake for the child (child is focused.)

   1. causative verb affix; to do because of, due to

      unsay gihilakan nimo? ― What is it you are crying about?

3. (with adjective bases) to consider something as

   lisoran siya mag-Tinagalog ― He finds speaking in Tagalog hard

4. (with noun bases) to put something on someone; to give someone

   serohan ta ka ― I will give you a zero

   sapatosan nako ang bata ― I will put shoes on the child

Suffix

-an (noun-forming suffix)

1. (added to nouns and verbs) indicates a place where such objects are found, placed, or action done

   Synonyms: -anan, ka- -an

   ‎humay (“rice”) + ‎-an → ‎humayan (“rice paddy”)

   ‎tinda (“to sell”) + ‎-an → ‎tindahan (“store”)

   ‎tuba (“palm toddy”) + ‎-an → ‎tubaan (“place where toddy is sold”)

   ‎basketbol + ‎-an → ‎basketbolan (“basketball court”)

2. (uncommon) indicates an object used as an instrument

   Synonym: pang-

   ‎baid (“to sharpen”) + ‎-an → ‎bairan (“whetstone”)

Suffix

-an (adjective-forming suffix)

1. (added to nouns) characterized by having something in abundance; -ful

   ‎utok (“brain”) + ‎-an → ‎utokan (“brainy”)

   ‎kuwarta (“money”) + ‎-an → ‎kuwartahan (“rich”)

2. (uncommon, added to adjectives or verbs) characterized by being or doing such; -ly

   Synonyms: -on, -anon

   ‎talaw (“to back off”) + ‎-an → ‎talawan (“cowardly”)

   ‎langas (“moving about a lot”) + ‎-an → ‎langasan (same meaning)

References

• John U. Wolff (1972) A dictionary of Cebuano Visayan‎ (overall work in Cebuano and English), Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, page 41

Suffix

-an

1. (added to possessive nouns) his, hers, its

Etymology

From Middle High German -en, a merger of various terminations in Old High German reflecting different conjugational patterns, namely -an, -ōn, -en (-ien), and -nen, from Proto-Germanic *-aną, *-ōną, *-janą, *-āną, and *-naną. Cognate with German -en.

Suffix

-an

1. A suffix of all verbs in their infinitive form.

Etymology

Inherited from Old Czech -ěnín, from Proto-Slavic *-janinъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ an]

Suffix

-an m anim (noun-forming suffix, female equivalent -anka)

1. forms nouns, including inhabitant names

Further reading

• -an in Slovník afixů užívaných v češtině, 2017

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin -anus.

Suffix

-an

1. -an; making a noun, describing a person or characteristic

   ‎-an → ‎human

   ‎-an → ‎sopran

2. (organic chemistry) suffix used for acyclic saturated hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, etc.).

References

• “-an” in Den Danske Ordbog