-ical

1. a combination of -ic and -al ¹, used in forming adjectives from nouns ( rhetorical ), providing synonyms to words ending in -ic ( poetical ), and providing an adjective with additional meanings to those in the -ic form ( economical ).

-ical

suffix forming adjectives

1. a variant of -ic

   fanatical

   economical

Derived Forms

• -ically, suffix:forming_adverbs

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ical¹

Middle English < Latin -icālis. See -ic, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ical¹

from Latin -icālis

Example Sentences

And now he hears words that are known to him,—“ical-akinish” and “shiloké;” hears them repeated again and again.

From Project Gutenberg

Sem′i-costif′erous, half-bearing a rib; Semicrit′ical, related to a differential equation and its criticoids.

From Project Gutenberg

Sem′i-solid, partially solid; Semispher′ical, having the figure of a half-sphere.

From Project Gutenberg

Irenic, ī-ren′ik, adj. tending to create peace: pacific—also Iren′ical.

From Project Gutenberg

Categoremat′ic, capable of being used by itself as a term; Categor′ical, positive: absolute: without exception.

From Project Gutenberg