I. -fy /faɪ/ BrE AmE suffix [in verbs]
another form of the suffix ↑ -ify
II. -ify /əfaɪ, ɪfaɪ/ BrE AmE suffix [in verbs] ( also -fy )
[ Language: Old French ; Origin: -ifier , from Latin -ificare , from -ficare ; ↑ -fy ]
1 . to make something be in a particular state or condition:
to purify (=make or become pure)
to clarify the situation (=make it clear)
2 . to fill someone with a particular feeling:
Spiders terrify me (=make me very afraid) .
3 . informal to do something in a silly or annoying way:
to speechify (=make speeches, using important sounding words)
4 . to make something or someone be like or typical of a person or group:
Frenchified (=like the French)