Fretish

/ˈfrɛtɪʃ/ adjective

Definition

Somewhat fretful; having a tendency toward or showing signs of worry or restlessness.

Etymology

From 'fret' plus '-ish' (suffix meaning somewhat or having qualities of). The '-ish' suffix allows for creating softer, more tentative adjectives that suggest a mild version of the base quality.

Kelly Says

The '-ish' suffix is wonderfully flexible in English—it can tone down a quality (fretish = somewhat fretful) or be used playfully, showing how we layer meanings in nuanced ways!

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