-cy

From Anglo-Norman -cie, ultimately from Latin -cia, -tia, Ancient Greek -κια (-kia), -τια (-tia), originally variants of Latin -ia and Ancient Greek -ια (-ia), -ία (-ía) or -εια (-eia). Original loan words like pharmacy and papacy could have formed the model.

• IPA^(key): /-si/

-cy

1. (non-productive) Used to form nouns of state, condition or quality.

   ‎private + ‎-cy → ‎privacy

   ‎frequent + ‎-cy → ‎frequency

   ‎obstinate + ‎-cy → ‎obstinacy

2. (non-productive) Used to form nouns of rank or office.

   ‎president + ‎-cy → ‎presidency

   ‎abbot + ‎-cy → ‎abbacy

   ‎magistrate + ‎-cy → ‎magistracy

In sense of a state, a condition, often replaces a terminal -t, as in pregnancy (from pregnant). Exceptions include normalcy (no terminal -t in normal) and bankruptcy (terminal -t in bankrupt retained).

• (state, condition or quality): -ness, -ity, -itude, -th
• (office): -ate

• YC