-மை

Inherited from Old Tamil -𑀫𑁃 (-mai), from Proto-Dravidian *-may.

Cognate with Kannada -ಮೆ (-me), Malayalam -മ (-ma), Telugu -మి (-mi). Compare மெய் (mey, “truth”).

• IPA^(key): /mɐɪ̯/

• Audio:

  (file)

-மை • (-mai)

1. -ness, -ity

   added to nouns, adjectives or verbs to produce abstract nouns

   ‎வாய் (vāy, “mouth”) + ‎-மை (-mai) → ‎வாய்மை (vāymai, “truthfulness”)

   ‎நேர் (nēr, “straight”) + ‎-மை (-mai) → ‎நேர்மை (nērmai, “honesty”)

   ‎திற (tiṟa, “to open, let loose”) + ‎-மை (-mai) → ‎திறமை (tiṟamai, “talent, skill”)

• University of Madras (1924–1936), “மை”, in Tamil Lexicon, Madras [Chennai]: Diocesan Press