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• Sy
  Sy

  noun

  a male given name, form of Seymour, Simon, or Silas.
• sy-
  sy-

  variant of syn- before s followed by a consonant and before z: systaltic; syzygy.
• -sy
  -sy

  a suffix forming nouns or adjectives, sometimes a diminutive of the base word and usually confined to informal and jocular use (bitsy; footsie; halvsies ); adjectives formed with -sy may be ironic, implying that the quality in question is self-consciously assumed or feigned (artsy; cutesy; folksy ). The combination of -s and -y or -y in certain words (antsy; gutsy ) should perhaps be considered further instances of this suffix.
• SY
  SY

  abbreviation

  Seychelles (international car registration)
• sy
  sy

  abbreviation

  Syrian Arab Republic

Sy

¹ American  

[sahy] / saɪ /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Seymour, Simon, or Silas.

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sy- ² American  

1. variant of syn- before s followed by a consonant and before z: systaltic; syzygy.

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-sy ³ American  

1. a suffix forming nouns or adjectives, sometimes a diminutive of the base word and usually confined to informal and jocular use (bitsy; footsie; halvsies ); adjectives formed with -sy may be ironic, implying that the quality in question is self-consciously assumed or feigned (artsy; cutesy; folksy ). The combination of -s and -y or -y in certain words (antsy; gutsy ) should perhaps be considered further instances of this suffix.

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SY ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Seychelles (international car registration)

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sy ² British  

abbreviation

1. Syrian Arab Republic

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Etymology

Origin of -sy

Perhaps originally two distinct suffixes, one diminutive (as in Betsy, popsy, tootsy ) and the other adjectival; sources of both are uncertain

Example Sentences

NOTE.—The form sy- is used before s; syl- before l, sym- before b, p or m.

From New Word-Analysis Or, School Etymology of English Derivative Words by Swinton, William