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Definition 2024

See also: ful, fúl, fûl, fül, and ful-

-ful

Used to form adjectives from nouns. An adjective derived by this suffix implies a thorough and certain possession of the quality of that noun, not a metaphorical fullness with it by degree or quantity. One who is wakeful is fully awake, not frequently waking; what is changeful is uncertain, not transformed; what is harmful may do a single and a mild injury.
Used to form nouns from nouns meaning “as much as can be held by what is denoted by the noun”

bowlful

handful

having the quality of the noun

as much as can be held by what is denoted by the noun

-ful

-ful

From Middle English -ful, -full, from Old English -ful, -full ‎(“full of; -ful”), from Proto-Germanic *-fullaz ‎(“-ful”), from Proto-Germanic *fullaz ‎(“full”), see full. Cognate with Saterland Frisian -ful ‎(“-ful”), West Frisian -fol ‎(“-ful”), Dutch -vol ‎(“-ful”), German -voll ‎(“-ful”), Swedish -full ‎(“-ful”), Icelandic -fullur, -fyllur ‎(“-ful”).