MORPHOLOGY AND SYNTAX
NOUN FEMININE FORMS
English has a small clutch of nouns with feminine derivational suffixes. All but one of these feminizing suffixes {-ster} are of foreign origin. They have been added to a masculine form or to base morpheme. Here are the lists of most of them!
|
No
|
Suffix
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
|
1
|
-e
|
Fiancé
|
Fiancée
|
|
2
|
-enne
|
Comedian
|
Comedienne
|
|
3
|
-ess
|
Patron
|
Patroness
|
|
4
|
-etta
|
Henry
|
Henrietta
|
|
5
|
-ette
|
Farmer
|
Farmerette
|
|
6
|
-euse
|
Masseur
|
Masseuse
|
|
7
|
-ina
|
George
|
Georgina
|
|
8
|
-ine
|
Hero
|
Heroine
|
|
9
|
-ster
|
Spinner
|
Spinster
|
|
10
|
-stress
|
seamster
|
Seamstress
|
These suffixes vary in vitality from –ess the most productive, to –stress, which is completely dead. Two of them, -enne and –euse, occur only in words borrowed from French. The –e, also from French, is merely orthographic, and is not heard in the spoken words. The –ster is no longer a feminizing suffix but now indicates any person, usually male: gangster, oldster, prankster.
Look at another example:
Grammatical gender is a system of noun classification. A common gender classification includes masculine and feminine categories. Masculine nouns are words for men, boys and male animals. Feminine nouns are words for women, girls and female animals.
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
|
Abbot
|
Abbess
|
Viscount
|
Viscountess
|
|
Actor
|
Actress
|
Master
|
Mistress
|
|
Author
|
Authoress
|
Murderer
|
Murderess
|
|
Bachelor
|
Spinster
|
Poet
|
Poetess
|
|
Bride
|
Groom
|
Nephew
|
Niece
|
|
Canon
|
Canoness
|
King
|
Queen
|
|
Conductor
|
Conductress
|
Prince
|
Princess
|
|
Czar
|
Czarina
|
Policeman
|
Policewoman
|
|
Dauphin
|
Dauphiness
|
Peer
|
Peeress
|
|
Duke
|
Duchess
|
Bachelor
|
Maid
|
|
Elector
|
Electress
|
Deacon
|
Deaconess
|
|
Emperor
|
Empress
|
Uncle
|
Aunt
|
|
Enchanter
|
Enchantress
|
Priest
|
Priestess
|
|
Gentleman
|
Ladies
|
Husband
|
Wife
|
|
God
|
Goddess
|
Governor
|
Governess
|
|
Heir
|
Heiress
|
Wizard
|
Witch
|
|
Host
|
Hostess
|
Manager
|
Manageress
|
|
instructor
|
Instructress
|
Sorcerer
|
Sorceress
|
|
Major
|
Majorette
|
Shepherd
|
Shepherdess
|
|
Monk
|
Nun
|
Adulterer
|
Adulteress
|
|
Paul
|
Paulina
|
Benefactor
|
Benefactress
|
|
Prior
|
prioress
|
Jew
|
Jewess
|
|
Proprietor
|
Proprietress
|
Hunter
|
Huntress
|
|
Protector
|
Protectress
|
Giant
|
Giantess
|
|
Songster
|
Songstress
|
Negro
|
Negress
|
|
Waiter
|
Waitress
|
Traitor
|
Traitress
|
|
Animal
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
|
Rabbit
|
Buck
|
Doe
|
|
Horse
|
Stallion
|
Mare
|
|
Sheep
|
Ram
|
Ewe
|
|
Pig
|
Boar
|
Sow
|
|
Chicken
|
Rooster
|
Hen
|
|
Duck
|
Drake
|
Duck
|
|
Cattle
|
Bull
|
Cow
|
|
Goose
|
Gander
|
Goose
|
|
Fox
|
Fox
|
Vixen
|
|
Tiger
|
Tiger
|
Tigress
|
|
Lion
|
Lion
|
Lioness
|
|
Bullock
|
Bullock
|
Heifer
|
|
Bee
|
Drone
|
Bee
|
|
Dog
|
Dog
|
Bitch
|
|
|
|
|
Credit: www.clarkscript.com (Nouns Gender)
www.english-for-student.com (Nouns Gender)
www.myenglishpages.com (Masculine and Feminine Words)
Zaim, M. 2015. Mophology and Syntax. Padang: FBS UNP Press (page 44-45)
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