-ry

suffix = -ERY (infantry; rivalry).
Etymology: shortened f. -ERY, or by analogy

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\\rē, ri\ noun suffix (-es)

Etymology: Middle English -rie, from Old French, short for -erie -ery

: -ery

pilotry

wizardry

pheasantry

citizenry

musketry

ribaldry

slovenry

prelatry

sergeantry

banditry

peasantry

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var. of -ery: heraldry; husbandry; dentistry; tenantry; jewelry.

[ME -rie OF; short form of -ERY]

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-ry,

suffix forming nouns from other nouns.

1. occupation or work of a _____: »

Dentistry = the occupation or work of a dentist. Chemistry = t occupation or work of a chemist.

2. act of a _____: »

Mimicry = act of a mimic.

3. quality or condition of a _____: »

Rivalry = the condition of a rival.

4. group or collection of _____s: »

Jewelry = collection of jewels. Peasantry = group of peasants.

╂[short for -ery]

Ry.,

railway.

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suffix a shortened form of -ery (as in devilry, rivalry)

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noun suffix

: ↑-ery

wizardry

citizenry

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-ry [-ry] ;

» ↑-ery

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-ry, suffix

a reduced form of -ery, occurring chiefly after an unstressed syllable ending in d, t, l, n, or sh (the usual type being words of three syllables with the stress on the first), but also in a few cases after stressed vowels or diphthongs. The older examples sometimes represent OF. forms in -rie, with variants in -erie, but the great majority are comparatively late English formations. Examples of the various types are heraldry, husbandry, ribaldry, wizardry; casuistry, dentistry, harlotry, infantry, papistry, peasantry, tenantry; chivalry, devilry, rivalry; blazonry, yeomanry; Englishry, Irishry; avowry, Jewry. In some cases both -ery and -ry are in use, as baptist(e)ry, command(e)ry, jewel(le)ry.