Although not numerous, Greek suffixes are important in English
word-making. They are used principally in making nouns.
=Nouns=:--
=-asm=, quality, that which: enthusiasm, sarcasm (= flesh-tearing).
=-ast=, one who (does): elegiast, enthusiast, gymnast, symposiast.
=-ic= (=-ics=), an art, science: logic, music, phthisic (asthma),
physic (science of medicine), ethics, physics, politics, statics,
tactics.
=-isk=, diminutive: asterisk (= little star), obelisk (little spit or
pillar).
=-ism=, act of, result, state, doctrine: atheism, baptism, criticism,
euphemism, socialism, schism, syllogism, Anglicanism, stoicism.
=-ist=, denotes practice, occupation: apologist, chemist, copyist,
elegist, eulogist, Hebraist, organist.
=-ma=, =-m=, result produced: asthma, diorama, dogma, drama,
apothegm, theorem.
=-sis=, act of, result: analysis, emphasis, genesis, periphrasis,
synthesis.
=-sy=, like =-sis=: apostasy, epilepsy, hypocrisy, idiosyncrasy,
palsy (= paraly-sis), poesy.
=-t=, =-te=, one who (does or is): apostate, comet (= long-haired),
planet (= wanderer), poet (= maker).
=-ter=, (=-tre=), place of, instrument: center, meter, philter
(love-potion), theatre (_theā-_, see).
=-y=, denotes quality, state, science: autonomy, botany, geography,
geometry, logomachy, melancholy, monarchy, philosophy, theology,
theory.
=Adjectives=:--
=-ac=, pertaining to: cardiac, elegiac, hypochondriac, Syriac.
=-ic=, belonging to, like; aromatic, athletic, authentic, despotic,
frantic, Hebraic, hypnotic, idiotic, monarchic, polytechnic,
theoretic.
=Verbs=:--
=-ize= (=-ise=), do, make or cause to be: baptize, criticise,
dogmatize, Hellenize, ostracize, proselytize, theorize. It is often
attached to stems not derived from Greek: anglicize, authorize,
Judaize, botanize, fertilize, naturalize, pulverize, scrutinize,
terrorize.