[1585–95; sense + -ful]This word is first recorded in the period 1585–95. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: competence, corridor, naturalize, sine, switch-ful is a suffix meaning “full of,” “characterized by” (shameful; beautiful; careful; thoughtful); “tending to,” “able to” (wakeful; harmful); or “as much as will fill” (spoonful)