-esse

Signification (English)

used to form nouns describing the condition of being something (-ness, -ity, etc.)

Synonyms

-e

-euse

-ité

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/ɛs/

Étymologie (English)

Inherited from ancien français: -ece

Inherited from latin: -itia

Inherited from moyen français: -esse

Inherited from ancien français: -esse

In summary

Inherited from Old French -ece, from Latin -itia. The modern spelling is due to a phonetic merger with etymology 2; see below. Related to -ise.