Colourific

/kəˈlɒrɪfɪk/ adjective

Definition

Something that produces or adds color; having the quality of making things colorful.

Etymology

From Latin 'color' (color) + '-fic' (from Latin '-ficus,' meaning 'making' or 'producing'). The same suffix appears in words like 'terrific' (terror-making) and 'soporific' (sleep-making).

Kelly Says

The '-fic' suffix is fascinatingly rare in modern English, which is why 'colourific' sounds unusual—we typically use '-making' or '-producing' instead, but words like 'prolific' and 'terrific' keep this ancient Latin pattern alive in our everyday speech.

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