ARY Endings: Where Adjectives and Nouns Overlap
The -ARY suffix is one of English's most productive endings, borrowed straight from Latin -arius. It creates both adjectives (ORDINARY, NECESSARY, IMAGINARY, VOLUNTARY) and nouns (DICTIONARY, LIBRARY, SANCTUARY, ADVERSARY). That dual function makes -ARY words crossword favorites — a single clue can point toward either category, keeping solvers on their toes. Here's a detail puzzle fans should know: the stress pattern in -ARY words shifts between American and British English. Americans say SEC-re-TARY (four syllables) while British speakers often compress it to SEC-re-TRY (three syllables). Crossword constructors don't care about pronunciation, but it explains why -ARY words feel different on each side of the Atlantic.
In Scrabble, -ARY words tend to run long — CUSTOMARY, LEGENDARY, SEDENTARY, ELEMENTARY — which means they're bingo candidates if you can build them across the board. The suffix itself uses low-value tiles (A=1, R=1, Y=4), totaling just 6 points, so the scoring comes from word length and premium square placement. CANARY (9 points, 6 tiles) and ROTARY (9 points, 6 tiles) are practical mid-length plays when you don't have a full rack for a bingo.
Quick strategy tip: If a crossword clue ends in "relating to" or "of the nature of," the answer very likely ends in -ARY. BUDGETARY, PLANETARY, MILITARY, HONORARY — the "relating to" pattern is the most reliable signal for this suffix. For more on productive endings, see words ending in LY, which often stacks on top of -ARY words (ORDINARILY, NECESSARILY). The words starting with UN page covers prefix plays that combine well with -ARY bases (UNNECESSARY, INVOLUNTARY).
FAQ
What's the difference between -ARY and -ERY suffixes?
Both come from Latin, but -ARY typically means "relating to" or "a person/place connected with" (LIBRARY, SECRETARY), while -ERY means "a place for" or "the practice of" (BAKERY, ARCHERY, BREWERY). Some words use both forms with different meanings — STATIONARY (not moving) vs. STATIONERY (paper goods). For more suffix patterns, explore words ending in LY.
What are the longest -ARY words valid in Scrabble?
EXTRAORDINARY is 13 letters, and SUPPLEMENTARY, COMPLIMENTARY, and PARLIAMENTARY all hit 13-15 letters. These are theoretically playable bingos if the board cooperates and you have blanks, but in practice, 7-9 letter -ARY words like CUSTOMARY or IMAGINARY are your realistic targets. For other long-word strategies, browse words starting with P for PREFIX + -ARY combos.
Why do so many English nouns end in -ARY?
English borrowed Latin nouns ending in -arium (a place for something) and shortened them to -ARY. LIBRARY comes from librarium (a place for books), AVIARY from aviarium (a place for birds), SANCTUARY from sanctuarium (a holy place). This pattern was so productive that English kept making new -ARY nouns long after Latin influence faded. See words starting with D for DICTIONARY and other -ARY nouns built from Latin roots.