Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


-ous

-ous

s
uff.
[OF.
-ous
,
us
,
-os
, F.
-eux
, fr. L.
-osus
, and
-us
. Cf.
-ose
.]
1.
An adjective suffix meaning
full of
,
abounding in
,
having
,
possessing the qualities of
,
like
; as in gracious, abounding in grace; arduous, full of ardor; bulbous, having bulbs, bulblike; riotous, poisonous, piteous, joyous, etc.
2.
(Chem.)
A suffix denoting that the element indicated by the name bearing it, has a valence lower than that denoted by the termination
-ic
;
as, nitr
ous
, mercur
ous
, ferr
ous
, sulphur
ous
, etc., as contrasted with nitr
ic
, mercur
ic
, ferr
ic
, sulphur
ic
, etc.

Definition 2024


-ous

-ous

See also: ous

English

Alternative forms

Suffix

-ous

  1. Used to form adjectives from nouns.
    bulb + -ousbulbous
    courage + -ouscourageous
    joy + -ousjoyous
    poison + -ouspoisonous
    riot + -ousriotous
  2. (chemistry) Used in chemical nomenclature to name chemical compounds in which a specified chemical element has a lower oxidation number than in the equivalent compound whose name ends in the suffix -ic. For example sulphuric acid (H2SO4) has more oxygen atoms per molecule than sulphurous acid (H2SO3). See Inorganic nomenclature.

Synonyms

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_words_suffixed_with_-ous'>English words suffixed with -ous</a>

Related terms

Translations

Note - translations of English words ending in -ous do not necessarily end in the suffixes listed below.

See also


Old French

Suffix

-ous

  1. Alternative form of -us