-s-

interfix

Genitival interfix used to link elements in some compounds, equivalent to the possessive clitic -'s.

“hogshead, kingsman, yearsworth, jobsworth, womenswear, craftsperson”

OriginMiddle English -s, -es ← Old English -es →
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Meanings

interfix
  1. Genitival interfix used to link elements in some compounds, equivalent to the possessive clitic -'s.

    hogshead, kingsman, yearsworth, jobsworth, womenswear, craftsperson

Origin

  1. Old English-es“-'s”
  2. Middle English-s, -es
  3. English-s-

From Middle English -s, -es, from Old English -es (“-'s”, masculine and neuter genitive singular ending), which survives in many old compounds. In more recent coinage, from contraction of the derived clitic -'s in compounds. For more, see -'s.

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

-s-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-s-

MLA

“-s-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-s-. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-s-,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-s-.

Source: -s- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.