[Lexicog] Pejorative suffixes

[Fritz Goerling]

  On 26/03/2005 17:19, Fritz Goerling wrote:

  > Fritz Goerling wrote:
  >
  >  >How productive is pejorative -ling in English?
  > >
  > Peter Kirk:
  >
  > I don't think this is pejorative in English either, it is simply a
  > diminutive.
  > ...
  >
  > (FG)   How about courtling, earthling, underling?
  >

  (PK)
  Well, it is the "under" rather than the "-ling" which makes "underling"
  pejorative. And "earthling" was not originally pejorative, although I
  have seen it used as such. I have never seen "courtling".

  (FG) How about hireling, princeling?




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