derivational suffix for adding an abstract quality, forming abstract nouns; much like –ness, -hood, and -ship in English
This suffix also functions something like the suffix "-ity" (e.g. purity) in English. We find -yo added to noun stems, and it adds a meaning of:
(1) an abstract quality (like 'beauty' or 'goodness') or
(2) a group or collection (collective nouns like 'humanity') or
(3) the material manifestation of the abstract notion (like 'a beauty' meaning a 'beautiful person or thing')
This suffix represents what was originally -yōtl or -ōtl, with a long vowel and the absolutive (-tl). But in the possessed form, having dropped the -tl, the vowel becomes short.
The -yo ending can add an element of politeness: e.g. notēucyo, totēucyo, my lord, our lord. We also see totēucyōhuan, our lords (with the vowel becoming long again, as it is no longer position final with the plural ending that follows).