1-variant 1The subject matters of Lexicology

3. Homonymic and Synonymic affixes.

Homonymic affixes are affixes which have the same sounfrom, spelling but different meanings and they are added to different parts of speech.

Ex. - ful (1) forms adjectives from a noun : (v) - loveful ( adj / ; man (n), manful (adj).

-ful (2) forms adjestive from a verb : forget (v) - for - getful, (adj) thank (v) - thankful (adj) .

-ly (1) added to an adjective stem is homonymous to the adjective forming suffix - ly (2) which is added to a noun stem. Ex. quickly, slowly, and lovely, friendly.

The verb suffix -en (1) added to a noun and adjective stem is homonymous to the adjective forming suffix -en (2) which is added to a noun stem. Ex. to strengthen to soften, and wooden, golden. The prefix un-(!) added to a noun and a verb stem is homonymous to the prefix un-(2) which is added to an adjective stem. Ex. unshoe, unbind, unfair, untrue.

In the course of the history of English as a result of borrowings there appeared many synonymous affixes in the language. Ex. the suffixes -er, -or, -ist, -ent, -ant, -eer, -ian, -man, -ee, -ess from synonymous affixes denoting the meaning "agent". Having the meaning of negation the prefixes -un, -in, -non, -dis, -mis from synonymic group of prefixes. It is interesting to point out that the synonymous affixes help us to reveal different lexico - semantic groupings of words.