English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English -ik, from Old French -ique, from Latin -icus, from Proto-Indo-European *-kos, *-ḱos, formed with the i-stem suffix *-i- and the adjectival suffix *-kos, *-ḱos. Compare Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós), Sanskrit -इक (-ika) and Old Church Slavonic -ъкъ (-ŭkŭ). Doublet of -ac and -y.

PIE *-kos on noun stems carried the meaning 'characteristic of, like, typical, pertaining to', and on adjectival stems it acted emphatically.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ɪk/
  • (file)

Suffix edit

-ic

  1. Used to form adjectives from nouns with the meaning “of or pertaining to”.
    Cyrillic
    acidic
  2. (chemistry) Used to denote certain chemical compounds in which a specified chemical element has a higher oxidation number than in the equivalent compound whose name ends in the suffix -ous. For example sulphuric acid (HSO₄) has more oxygen atoms per molecule than sulphurous acid (H₂SO₃).

Usage notes edit

The suffix -ic is often added to words of Greek or Latin origin, but may also be used with other words, and in some cases is even added (redundantly) to adjectives, as in veganic (from vegan).

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

See also edit

Anagrams edit

Catalan edit

Etymology 1 edit

Borrowed from Latin -icus.

Suffix edit

-ic (adjective-forming suffix, feminine -ica, masculine plural -ics, feminine plural -iques)

  1. -ic (of or pertaining to)

Suffix edit

-ic m (noun-forming suffix, plural -ics)

  1. (chemistry) -ic

Etymology 2 edit

Inherited from Latin -iccus.

Suffix edit

-ic m (noun-forming suffix, plural -ics)

  1. forms diminutive nouns
Derived terms edit

Middle English edit

Suffix edit

-ic

  1. Alternative form of -ik

Romanian edit

Etymology edit

From Latin -icus.

Pronunciation edit

Suffix edit

-ic m or n (feminine singular -ică, masculine plural -ici, feminine and neuter plural -ice)

  1. Forms adjectives with the meaning "of or pertaining to".

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit