-else

From -ilse, later -ælsæ, from Old Saxon -isli, -islo, from Proto-West Germanic *-islī. Also used to represent the Middle Low German suffix -nisse.

• IPA^(key): /-əlsə/, [-əlsə]

-else c (singular definite -elsen, plural indefinite -elser, plural definite -elserne)

1. Added to a verb to form a noun for an action or process.

   ‎afbryde (“interrupt”) + ‎-else → ‎afbrydelse (“interruption”)

2. The result of, or something related to, such an action or process

• -ing
• -sel
• -tion

• Norwegian Bokmål: -else
  • → Norwegian Nynorsk: -else

• “-else” in Den Danske Ordbog

• -els
• -elsch
• -sel
• -el

From Middle Low German -else, from Old Saxon -isli, -islo; from Proto-West Germanic *-islī.

• IPA^(key): /əlsə/, [(ə)lzə]

-else n

1. Creating, from a verb, a noun which is created by the action of this verb (not necessarily one with which the verb is supposed to be done).

   Backelse (“pastry”): that which is baked (in a wider sense anything baked like bread and cakes) — from backen (“to bake”)

   Radelse (“riddle”): that which is guessed — from raden (“to guess”); compare German Rätsel, Dutch raadsel, Old English rǣdelse

   Riemelse (“rhyme”): that which is rhymed — from riemen (“to rhyme”)

• -sel

From Old Saxon -isli, from Proto-West Germanic *-islī.

• IPA^(key): /əlzə/

-else n (usually)

1. Creating a noun from a verb, denoting something on which the verb is performed.

   ‎backen (“to bake”) + ‎-else → ‎backelse n (“a baked good”, literally “that which is created by baking”)

2. Creating a noun from a verb, denoting an object which is used to perform the verb.

   ‎decken (“to cover”) + ‎-else → ‎deckelse n (“a cover, a roof, a wrapping”, literally “that which is used to cover”)

Mostly from Danish -else, from Old Danish -ælsæ -ilse, with metathesis of -sl- to -ls- from Old Saxon -isli, -islo.

Also from West Germanic loanwords, partly with metathesis of suffixes -sel and -sle from Middle Low German -nisse, from Old Saxon -nissi, from Proto-West Germanic *-nassī (forms abstract nouns), from *-nass, from Proto-Germanic *-inassuz + *-ī, from Proto-Germanic *-į̄, from Proto-Indo-European *-i-h₂, from *-h₂ (creates collective nouns).

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛlsə/, /ˌəlsə/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛlsə, -əlsə
• Hyphenation: -el‧se
• Homophones: Else, -elset

-else m or n (definite singular neuter -elset, definite singular masculine -elsen, indefinite plural -elser, definite plural -elsene or -elsa)

2. Used to form verbal nouns denoting an action.

   avgjørelse, forståelse, anfektelse, bebudelse, oppstandelse ― decision, understanding, challenge, proclamation, resurrection

4. Used to form verbal nouns synonymous with the -ing ending.

   drøftelse, oversettelse, tilretteleggelse, utdannelse ― discussion, translation, facilitation, education

6. Used to form verbal nouns denoting a different meaning than the -ing ending.

   forbindelse, lignelse ― connection, parable

8. Used to form verbal nouns with a specific meaning, usually the result of an action

   skrivelse, spøkelse, stivelse ― writing, ghost, starch

• -ing, -ning (“forms nouns”)

• “-else” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “-else” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).

• esel, esle, lees, lese, sele

• -elle

A metathetic form of Proto-West Germanic *-islī.

• IPA^(key): /el.se/, [eɫ.ze]

-else f

1. (feminine suffix for inanimate objects) suffix creating nouns from verbs

   rǣdelse ― counsel, advice, riddle, enigma

   myrrelse, mierrelse ― an offense, scandal; stumblingblock

Weak n-stem:

• -els

• Category Old English terms suffixed with -else not found

• English: -le

From Old Saxon -isli, -islo, from Proto-West Germanic *-islī. Also used to represent the Middle Low German suffix -nisse.

-else c

1. -ment, -tion, -ing suffix creating nouns from verbs

   ‎röra (“to move”) + ‎-else → ‎rörelse (“movement”)

   ‎hända (“to happen”) + ‎-else → ‎händelse (“occurence”)