German

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Etymology

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From Middle High German -sam, from Old High German -sam, from Proto-West Germanic *-sam, from Proto-Germanic *-samaz, from Proto-Germanic *samaz, from Proto-Indo-European *somHós. Cognate with English -some and Dutch -zaam. Related also to Old High German samo (the same) and sama (similary).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /zaːm/ (standard)
  • IPA(key): /zam/ (regional; including western Germany)
  • Audio:(file)

Suffix

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-sam

  1. Used to form adjectives from verbs, nouns, and other adjectives; expressing similarity or the possession of a quality.
    Tugend (virtue) + ‎-sam → ‎tugendsam (of virtue, virtuous)
    aufmerken (to observe) + ‎-sam → ‎aufmerksam (observant, attentive)
    lang (long, lengthy) + ‎-sam → ‎langsam (slow)
  2. Used to form adjectives from verbs; expressing the ability to undergo some action.
    Synonyms: -bar, -abel
    biegen (to bend) + ‎-sam → ‎biegsam (flexible, bendable)

Usage notes

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  • The suffix is now of very limited productivity at most.

Derived terms

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Latin

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Suffix

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-sam

  1. accusative feminine singular of -sus

Norwegian Nynorsk

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Etymology

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From Old Norse -samr.

Suffix

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-sam

  1. used to form adjectives

Derived terms

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References

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Swedish

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Etymology

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From Old Norse -samr, from Proto-Germanic *-samaz, a suffix form of *samaz (same).

Suffix

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-sam

  1. -some; creating adjectives, mostly out of nouns

Derived terms

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See also

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References

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  • -sam in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)

Anagrams

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