-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

relating to or having the nature of Compare -ious
gaseous

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of -eous¹

< Latin -eus; -ous

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of -eous¹

from Latin -eus

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

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

Eötvös unit EOW

Browse