-le

-le¹

suffix

1》 forming names of appliances or instruments: bridle.

2》 forming names of animals and plants: beetle.

Origin

OE, of Gmc origin.

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-le²

(also -el)

suffix forming nouns having or originally having a diminutive sense: mantle.

Origin

ME -el, -elle, partly from OE and partly from OFr. (based on L. forms).

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-le³

suffix (forming adjectives from an original verb) apt to; liable to: brittle.

Origin

ME: from earlier -el, of Gmc origin.

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-le⁴

suffix forming verbs, chiefly expressing repeated action or movement (as in babble, dazzle), or having diminutive sense (as in nestle).

Origin

OE -lian, of Gmc origin.