WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Sy (sī),USA pronunciation n.
sy-,
-sy,
- a male given name, form of Seymour, Simon, or Silas.
sy-,
- var. of syn- before s followed by a consonant and before z: systaltic;
syzygy.
-sy,
- a suffix forming nouns or adjectives, sometimes a diminutive of the base word and usually confined to informal and jocular use (bitsy;
footsie;
halvsies);
adjectives formed with -sy may be ironic, implying that the quality in question is self-consciously assumed or feigned (artsy;
cutesy;
folksy). The combination of -s 3 and -y 1 or -y 2 in certain words (antsy;
gutsy) should perhaps be considered further instances of this suffix.
- sources of both are uncertain perh. origin, originally two distinct suffixes, one diminutive (as in Betsy, popsy, tootsy) and the other adjectival
'Sy' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Sue
- African daisy
- antsy
- aperçu
- Arctic daisy
- artsy
- artsy-fartsy
- aster daisy
- ballsy
- Bell's palsy
- Bessie
- bitsy
- blue daisy
- bonxie
- cerebral palsy
- crown daisy
- cutesy
- cutesy pie
- daisy chain
- daisy fleabane
- daisy ham
- daisy wheel
- dipsy-doodle
- ditsy
- donsie
- Easter daisy
- English daisy
- fancy
- flimsy
- floozy
- folksy
- footsie
- fubsy
- gawsy
- Gipsy
- Gussie
- gutsy
- gyplure
- gypsy cab
- gypsy capstan
- gypsy moth
- gypsy scale
- gypsy setting
- gypsy winch
- halfsies
- hissy
- itty-bitty
- kielbasa
- kingfisher daisy
- kneesies