Growth Is a Noun English Built With a Norse Ending
Growth is the process of increasing. The -th ending that makes it a noun is old and no longer productive.
Growth is the process of increasing in size, number or value. The word shows an ending English no longer uses: *-th* turns verbs and adjectives into nouns, as in *warmth*, *depth*, *width*, *strength* and *truth*. The suffix stopped producing new words centuries ago, which is why nobody has ever coined *coolth* seriously.
- Increase. *Economic growth.*
- Development. *Personal growth.*
- An abnormal mass. *A benign growth.*
- Growth as a modifier. *A growth industry.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | growth | Rapid growth. |
| Plural | growths | New growths. |
| Verb | grow | Grow steadily. |
| Past | grew / grown | It has grown. |
| Related | grower | A tomato grower. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Growth slowed last quarter.Economics.
- A growth mindset.Psychology.
- Warmth, depth and width use the same ending.An old noun-forming suffix.
Nouns ending in -th
- warmth — from warm
- depth — from deep
- width — from wide
- strength — from strong
- truth — from true
From Old Norse *groðr*, growth, and English *grow*, from Old English *growan*. The *-th* suffix is native and now unproductive.
Is *coolth* a word?
It exists as a joke and appears occasionally in print, but it never became standard. The suffix stopped producing new words long ago.
Growth or increase?
Growth suggests organic development over time. Increase is neutral and can be sudden.