-nis

Etymology
From, , from.

Suffix

 * 1) -ment, -ation, -ness

Usage notes

 * While a cognate of, this Dutch suffix is not an exact equivalent semantically; for example, it is not restricted to abstract nouns representing states of being but also produces more concrete, countable nouns, particularly action nouns.
 * The deverbal suffix -nis proved one of the most productive noun-forming suffixes in Dutch up until 16th century Dutch. It was a deverbal noun former and formed with verbal stems, infinitives or participles. Nowadays, the suffix -nis “-ness” is either no longer productive or at most marginally productive.
 * In a few cases, the suffix carries a neuter gender; for example in and

Etymology
From, from , , from. Cognate to 🇨🇬.

Usage notes
There is no perfect rule to determine whether a noun with the suffix -nis is neuter (→ suffix 1) or feminine (→ suffix 2). The former may be concrete or abstract, whereas the latter are almost exclusively abstract.