MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

What does the noun suffix -ess signify?

1. A state or condition

2. A feminine form

3. An action or process

4. A quality or characteristic

The correct answer is: A feminine form

The noun suffix -ess is used to indicate a feminine form of a word. This suffix is often added to nouns that denote a profession, role, or status traditionally associated with women, such as “actress” (female actor) or “waitress” (female server). By attaching -ess to a base word, it clearly signifies that the person in that role is female. This morphological addition serves to highlight gender distinctions in specific contexts, making it clear that the noun refers specifically to women. Understanding this suffix is important for comprehending how language can form gendered identities and distinctions.