Ling definition
In a specified direction, manner, or condition.
Darkling.
suffix
Small or young (person or thing specified)
Duckling.
affix
One connected with.
Worldling.
suffix
One having a specified quality.
Underling.
suffix
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Any of several edible gadoid fishes mostly of the N Atlantic.
noun
One in relation to a (specified) thing, esp. in seeming subordinate, unimportant, or contemptible.
Hireling, earthling, groundling.
affix
(now chiefly dial.) In a (specified) manner, condition, or direction; to a (specified) extent.
Darkling.
affix
Short for common ling, Molva molva.
noun
A diminutive modifier of nouns having either the physical sense of "a younger, smaller or inferior version of what is denoted by the original noun", or the derived sense indicating possession of or connection with a quality, which may having the sense of "a follower or resident of what is denoted by the stem form".
suffix
Any of various marine food fishes closely related to and resembling the cod, especially Molva molva of northern Atlantic waters, having a long body and a barbel on the chin.
noun
Linguistics.
abbreviation
One that is young, small, or inferior.
Duckling.
suffix
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Origin of ling
- ME -linge < OE -ling, -lang < IE base *lenk-, to bend > Latvian lùnkans, flexible
From Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Edition
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From Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Edition
- Middle English possibly of Low German origin del-1 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English from Old English
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English from Old English
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle English -ling, from Old English -ling, from Proto-Germanic *-lingaz, a nominal suffix, probably composed of Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (agent/instrumental suffix) + Proto-Germanic *-ingaz (patronymic suffix). Akin to Old High German -ling, Old Norse -lingr, Gothic -𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌲𐍃 (-liggs) (in 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐌹𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌲𐍃 (gadiliggs)). More at -le, -ing.
From Wiktionary