-some

/səm//soʊm/

suffix

Characterized by some specific condition or quality, usually to a considerable degree.

“I'll try and do it real quietsome.”

OriginProto-Germanic *samaz ← Proto-Indo-European *somHós →
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Meanings

-some1

suffix-some (adjective-forming suffix, comparative more -some, superlative most -some)

comparative more -some · superlative most -some

  1. verband other adjectivesCharacterized by some specific condition or quality, usually to a considerable degree.

    Elsewhere the blingsome silver-beveled mirrors, butterfly and lotus blossom motifs, and the occasional chaise longue make the opulence a touch on the show-off side for me, but the expenses were obviously 5-star and it's undoubtedly bespoke.

    2012, Tom Sandham, World's Best Cocktails
  2. nonstandardregionalUsed to form adverbs from adjectives.

    I'll try and do it real quietsome.

-some2

suffix-some (noun-forming suffix, plural -somes)

plural -somes

  1. Denoting a group with a certain number of members.

-some3

suffix-some (noun-forming suffix, plural -somes)

plural -somes

  1. in compoundsnounBody.
  2. in compoundsnounChromosome.

-some4

suffix
  1. Plus some indeterminate fraction not amounting to the next higher round number or significant digit; and change; -odd.

    twenty-some identifiable factors affecting the outcome

    1 more example

    one-hundred-and-fifty-some spectators in the bleachers

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
and change-ass-esque-form-ish-like-ly-odd-oid-osepara-quasi--something

Origin

-some · suffix

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*somHós
  3. Proto-Germanic*samaz
  4. English-some

From Middle English -som, -sum, from Old English -sum (“same as; -some”), from Proto-West Germanic *-sam, from Proto-Germanic *-samaz, from Proto-Germanic *samaz (“same”). Akin to Saterland Frisian -soam (“-some”), West Frisian -sum (“-some”), Dutch -zaam (“-some”), German Low German -saam (“-some”), German -sam (“-some”), Danish -som, Swedish -sam, Icelandic -samur (“-some”), Gothic -𐍃𐌰𐌼𐍃 (-sams), -𐍃𐌰𐌼𐌰 (-sama). Cognate with Albanian -shëm (“-some”). More at same, some.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

-some · suffix

  1. Old Englishsum“some, one”
  2. Middle English-som
  3. English-some

From Middle English -som, from a specialized use of Old English sum (“some, one”) coming after a genitive plural (e.g. hē wæs fēowertiga sum --"he was one of forty", literally "he was forties' some[one]"; sixa sum --"one of six, sixsome").

More words from Middle English, Old English

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-some · suffix

  1. Proto-Indo-European*tewh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*twoH-mn̥
  3. Proto-Hellenic*twṓmə?
  4. Proto-Indo-European*styeH-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*(s)tyoH-mn̥
  6. Proto-Hellenic*styṓmə?
  7. Ancient Greekσῶμα (sôma)
  8. English-some

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek σῶμα (sôma, “body”). For the "chromosome" sense, by analogy with chromosome.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

-some · suffix

From some in its "approximately" sense; more at some § Etymology.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian -лив, -о́рка
  • -лив (-liv)characterized by some specific condition or quality
  • -о́рка (-órka)denoting a group with a certain number of members
  • -зо́ма (-zóma)body
  • и ня́колко (i njákolko)plus some indeterminate fraction
  • и не́що (i néšto)plus some indeterminate fraction
Cite this entry
APA

-some. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-some

MLA

“-some.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-some. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-some,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-some.

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