-nik
TheEnglishsuffix-nikis ofSlavicorigin. It approximately corresponds to the suffix "-er" and nearly always denotes anagent noun(that is, it describes a person related to the thing, state, habit, or action described by the word to which the suffix is attached).[1]In the cases where a native English language coinage may occur, the "-nik" -word often bears an ironic connotation,[2]as in the case of the terms coined for the failed rocket launch of the U.S. satellite rival toSputnik,such askaputnik, dudnikandflopnikamong others.[3]
History
[edit]The suffix existed in English for a long time. An example israskolnik,recorded by theOxford English Dictionaryas known since 1723.[1]There have been two main waves of the introduction of this suffix into English language. The first was driven byYinglishwords contributed byYiddishspeakers fromEastern Europe.The second surge was observed after the launch of the firstSputniksatellite by theSoviet Unionon October 4, 1957.
In his bookThe American Language,first published in 1919,H. L. Mencken(1880–1956) credited the mania for adding "-nik" to the ends of adjectives to create nouns toAl Capp's Americancomic stripLi'l Abner(1934–1977)[4]rather than to the influence of "Sputnik", first recorded in 1957,[5]or "beatnik", first recorded in 1958.[6]
Vocabulary
[edit]Mainstream
[edit]Words of significant context or usage:
Casual
[edit]Casualneologisms:
- Alrightnik: one who has been successful;nouveau riche
- Artnik, a UK publisher (defunct);[7]the word predates its establishment
- Muttnik,the first dog in space
- Neatnik: a neat-freak
- Nogoodnik:a lazy, incompetent or malicious person
- Peacenik: apacifist;ahippie
- Wordnik
Jewish adaptation
[edit]Words originally used by Jews of Europe, America, and Israel, often referring to concepts related to their experiences or things happening in Israel or among the Jewish people:
- Chabadnik or Habadnik: follower ofChabad
- Kadimanik: member ofUnited Synagogue Youth's Kadima program
- Ka-tzetnik:a Nazi concentration camp prisoner or survivor, derived from abbreviation KZ, pronounced "Ka-tzet"
- Kibbutznik: member of aKibbutz
- Lamedvavnik
- Likudnik: supporter of Israeli political partyLikud
- Limmudnik: participant or attendee ofLimmudevents
- Mapainik: supporter of the historical Israeli labor partyMapai
- Moshavnik: member of aMoshav
- Mossadnik:Mossadagent
- Netzernik: Member of theNetzer Olamiyouth movement
- Nudnik:a nagging, boring or awkward person
- Shinuinik: supporter of Israeli political partyShinui
- Hamasnik:A member or supporter ofHamas
Slavic languages
[edit]Native or constructed Slavic words originating in Slavic-speaking environments:
There are quite a fewproper nouns(surnames and place names) with this suffix.
See also
[edit]English terms suffixed with -nik
References
[edit]- ^abV. V. Kabakchi, Charles Clay Doyle,"Of Sputniks, Beatniks, and Nogoodniks",American Speech,Vol. 65, No. 3 (1990), pp. 275-278doi:10.2307/455919
- ^Rudnyckyj, Jaroslav B. (1959).""Sputnik" and -nik derivatives in the present language of North America ".Études Slaves et Est-Européennes / Slavic and East-European Studies.4(3/4): 142–150.ISSN0014-2190.
- ^"sputnik | Etymology, origin and meaning of sputnik by etymonline".etymonline.Retrieved2023-08-25.
- ^Doyle, Henry Grattan; Mencken, H. L. (May 1936)."The American Language: An Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States".The Modern Language Journal.20(8): 535.doi:10.2307/316696.hdl:2027/mdp.39015027579278.ISSN0026-7902.
- ^Recorded in theOEDfrom October 1957.
- ^Caen, Herb (2 April 1958)."Pocketful of Notes".San Francisco Chronicle.Retrieved28 August2012.
- ^"Artnik Publishers".writewords.org.uk.
External links
[edit]
- "-nik".The Mavens' Word of the Day.Random House.June 1, 1998. Archived fromthe originalon 2001-04-18.