-ía

Inherited from Latin -(i)ēbam (first person) and -(i)ēbat (third person).

-ía (non-lemma form of verb-forming suffix)

1. forms the first-person singular imperfect indicative of -er and -ir verbs
2. forms the third-person singular imperfect indicative of -er and -ir verbs

• -aba

-ía f (noun-forming suffix, plural -ías)

1. forms nouns, from adjectives, denoting states, conditions and qualities; -ness; -ity; -y; -hood

   Synonyms: -idad, -ción

   ‎alegre (“joyful”) + ‎-ía → ‎alegría (“joy”)

2. (medicine) forms the names of medical conditions; -y; -ia

   ‎acéfalo (“acephalous”) + ‎-ía → ‎acefalía (“acephaly”)

3. forms the names of offices or jobs; -ship

   Synonyms: -ado, -ato

   ‎alcalde (“governor”) + ‎-ía → ‎alcaldía (“the job or office of a governor”)

4. (geography) forms the names of places from their inhabitants; -ia

   ‎araucano (“Araucanian”) + ‎-ía → ‎Araucanía (“Araucania”)

• “-ía”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014