-EOUS Definition & Meaning

-eous

an adjectival suffix with the meanings “composed of,” “resembling, having the nature of,” occurring in loanwords from Latin ( igneous; ligneous; vitreous ); also, as a semantically neutral suffix, found on adjectives of diverse origin, sometimes with corresponding nouns ending in -ty2 ( beauteous; courteous; hideous; homogeneous; plenteous; righteous ).

-eous

suffix forming adjectives

relating to or having the nature of Compare -ious
gaseous

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of -eous¹

< Latin -eus; -ous

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of -eous¹

from Latin -eus

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Example Sentences

The Reverend William Whewell, an influential man, objected on etymological grounds and suggested instead an "–eous" pattern, producing Meioneous, Pleioneous, and so on.

From

Testū′dinate, -d, Testudin′eous, arched, vaulted, resembling the carapace of a tortoise.—n.

From

Sanguin′eous, sanguine: resembling or constituting blood.—ns.

From

Stramin′eous, strawy, light like straw.

From

Self′-rev′erent; Self′-right′eous, righteous in one's own estimation: pharisaical.—n.

From

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