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A privative adjective
suffix , denoting without,
lacking, destitute of,
not having; |
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The -less suffix is the only
suffix that changes the meaning of the base word and it is often
used to convey the negative or opposite of words ending in -ful,
as in careful/careless and fearful/fearless.
But -less was also used to coin words that had no counterpart
ending in -ful: headless, loveless,
motherless. Although -less normally forms
adjectives by attaching to nouns, sometimes it attaches to verbs, as in
tireless.
Often he suffixes - less and -free can be used quite
interchangeably, normally, usage prescribes one OR the other. (as in:
sugarless or sugarfree)
For example : soilless
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