Question

If you answered that the word orthodontist has one affix, you were correct. The last part of the word, -ist, is its suffix. What does the suffix -ist mean, and what part of speech does it give to the word orthodontist?

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The suffix **-ist** generally refers to a person who specializes in or practices a certain field or profession. In the case of the word **orthodontist**, the suffix indicates that the person is a specialist in orthodontics, which is a branch of dentistry focused on diagnosing, preventing, and treating dental and facial irregularities.

As for the part of speech, the suffix **-ist** typically converts the base word into a **noun**. Therefore, **orthodontist** is a noun that refers to a person who practices orthodontics.

Related Questions