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Questions & Answers about Bu hastalık öldürücüydü.
How does the -ücü suffix change the meaning of the verb here?
The suffix -(y)Icı / -(y)UcU creates an adjective, or sometimes a noun, describing the doer of an action or something characterized by that action. Here, it attaches to öldür- (to kill) to create öldürücü, meaning deadly or lethal (literally killing).
Wait, doesn't the root öl- just mean to die? Where does the killing come from?
The verb root here is actually öldür- (to kill). It is formed by adding the causative suffix -dür to the root öl- (to die). So, öl- (to die) becomes öldür- (to make die / to kill), and then we add -ücü to get öldürücü (deadly).
Could I use öldürücü as a noun to mean a killer or a murderer?
Let's review the end of öldürücüydü. Why do we need the -y- before the -dü?