Suffix with heir - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Suffix with heir," is a classic example of a word-part clue often found in crossword puzzles, particularly earlier in the week. It tests your knowledge of common English suffixes and how they modify base words. It's a quick and satisfying fill for those familiar with word formation.

Clue Analysis

The clue directly asks for a "suffix" that can be attached to the word "heir." An heir is a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death. The clue prompts us to find the ending that creates a related, but distinct, word. In this case, the suffix creates the feminine form of the noun. By adding the suffix to "heir," we get "heiress," a female heir. Therefore, the suffix itself is the answer.

Thinking Approaches

Direct Word Association: The most straightforward method is to think of the word "heir" and ask yourself, "What is the female version of an heir?" The word "heiress" will likely come to mind immediately. From there, you simply identify the part that was added: ESS.
Pattern Matching: If "heiress" doesn't immediately pop into your head, you can think about the clue type. "Suffix with..." is a common construction. You can mentally cycle through common suffixes. Does "heirdom" work? No. "Heirship"? That's a word, but it's not a suffix that changes the gender. When you consider suffixes that denote a female, -ESS is the most prominent one. You can test it with other words: prince becomes princess, lion becomes lioness. This pattern confirms ESS is the likely answer.
Leveraging Crossings: For a short, three-letter answer like this, even a single crossing letter can be a game-changer. If you have the middle letter, _S_, the answer becomes much more obvious.

Background Context

The suffix -ess is used in English to form nouns denoting female persons or animals. It entered English from French, which inherited it from Latin. While its use has declined in favor of gender-neutral terms in many professions (e.g., actor is now commonly used for any gender, rather than actress), it remains firmly in place for many established words.

Some common examples include:

Host -> Hostess
Prince -> Princess
Duke -> Duchess
Lion -> Lioness

The word "heiress" specifically refers to a woman who is an heir, especially one who stands to inherit a great deal of wealth.

Conclusion

This clue is a great example of foundational crossword knowledge. Recognizing common affixes (prefixes and suffixes) is a key skill for any solver. "Suffix with heir" is a clean, direct clue that rewards a basic understanding of English morphology, leading to the satisfyingly logical answer, ESS.

Hints

Hint 1: This suffix is used to denote a female person or animal.
Hint 2: It's often added to nouns indicating a role or occupation, like "actor" or "waiter".
Hint 3: Think of the female equivalent of a lion or a prince.
Hint 4: The word formed is "heiress". What is the ending?