Ment
/mɛnt/noun
A French-derived noun-forming suffix used in English to create nouns of action, result, or means.
Did you know?The English suffix -ment comes through Old French from Latin -mentum, a productive noun-forming ending that could turn a verb into the result or instrument of that action.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*men-
“to think, remember, have in mind”
Latin
Latin
-mentum
“a suffix forming nouns of result, means, or instrument”
Old French
OF
-ment
“noun-forming ending inherited from Latin”
Middle English
English
-ment
“used in borrowed French and Latin nouns”
Modern English
English
-ment
“productive suffix forming nouns such as movement, payment, and enchantment”
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