Understanding Suffixes and Word Formation

A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word to modify its meaning or create a new word. This question asks us to identify the correct suffix that can be combined with the word 'peace' to form a new, meaningful English word.

Analyzing Suffixes for the Word 'Peace'

We will test each option to see which suffix correctly combines with 'peace':

• Option 1: 'ing'
  When 'ing' is added to 'peace', we get 'peaceing'. This is not a standard or commonly used English word.
• Option 2: 'ful'
  Adding the suffix 'ful' to 'peace' creates the word 'peaceful'. This is a well-established English word meaning calm, quiet, and free from disturbance.
• Option 3: 'est'
  Combining 'est' with 'peace' results in 'peaceest'. This is not a valid English word. The suffix '-est' is typically used for forming the superlative degree of adjectives (e.g., 'fastest').
• Option 4: 'ed'
  Adding 'ed' to 'peace' gives 'peaced'. While it can be used informally, for example, in the phrase 'peaced out', it's not the most common or standard formation compared to 'peaceful'. The suffix 'ful' forms a more widely recognized adjective directly related to the noun 'peace'.

Therefore, the suffix 'ful' is the correct choice because it forms the common and meaningful word 'peaceful'.