What does the suffix -cise mean?

The suffix "-cise" generally means "to cut" or "to make a cut". It's often derived from the Latin word "caedere," which means "to cut" or "to kill."

Here are some examples of words with the suffix "-cise":

* Circumcise: To cut off the foreskin of a male.

* Excise: To cut out or remove something.

* Incise: To cut into a surface.

* Precise: Characterized by accuracy and exactness (originally meaning "cut off" in a specific way).

It's important to note that while "-cise" often means "to cut," it can also refer to other actions that involve making a separation or division, such as:

* Precise: As mentioned above, this word originally meant "cut off" in a specific way, and now it's used to describe something that is accurate and exact.

* Concise: Meaning "brief and to the point" - like cutting out unnecessary words.

So, while the core meaning of "-cise" is related to cutting, it can be expanded to encompass other related actions depending on the word.