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
-s3. and
-y1. or
-y2. in certain words (
antsy; gutsy) should perhaps be considered further instances of this suffix.