See Also:

ful (iou)



-ful suffix.
[from FULL adjective.]
Forming adjectives. Orig. used in composition with a preceding noun to form adjectives with the sense 'full of or having,' as beautiful, graceful, or, in the 14th cent., with the sense 'having the qualities of' as masterful, powerful. Later, in the 16th and 17th cents., forming adjectives from adjectives or Latin adjective stems with little change of meaning, as direful, grateful (perh. by analogy with older synonyms in -ful). In mod. English forming adjectives from verb-stems with the sense 'apt to, able to, accustomed to,' as forgetful, mournful, or occas. with passive force, as bashful.
Forming nouns (pl. -fuls, occas. -sful) with the sense 'the amount that fills or would fill (a receptacle),' as handful, mouthful, spoonful.