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-cle

1
  1. a suffix found in French loanwords of Latin origin, originally diminutive nouns, and later in adaptations of words borrowed directly from Latin or in New Latin coinages: conventicle; particle.

    article;

    conventicle;

    corpuscle;

    particle.



-cle

2
  1. a suffix found in French loanwords of Latin origin, later in adaptations of words borrowed directly from Latin; in Latin, this suffix formed from verbs nouns that denoted a place appropriate to the action of the verb ( cubicle, receptacle ) or a means by which the action is performed ( vehicle ).

-cle

suffix forming nouns

  1. indicating smallness

    cubicle

    particle

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of -cle1

From French, Old French, from Latin -culus, -cula, -culum, variant of -ulus -ule with nouns of the 3rd, 4th and 5th declensions, usually with the same gender as the base noun

Origin of -cle2

< French, Old French < Latin -culum, -cula < *-tlom, *-tlā
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Word History and Origins

Origin of -cle1

via Old French from Latin -culus. See -cule
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Example Sentences

CLE Why has not my heart sufficient resolution to punish this infamous scoundrel?

Cle-Syria was, like the north of Mesopotamia, in repute for its cattle.

"Ez clean an' ez cle'r ez the pa'm er my han'," replied Uncle Jake, with emphasis.

Trea′cle-sleep, a sweet and refreshing sleep; Trea′cliness, viscosity.

Cle'lia or Cloe'lia, a Roman maiden, one of the hostages given to Por'sena.

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Words That Use -cle

What does -cle mean?

The suffix -cle has two distinct senses.

The first of these senses is to denote a diminutive noun, meaning to indicate something small in size or importance. It is also used in other French loanwords from Latin. This form of -cle is occasionally used in a variety of everyday and technical terms. The suffix -cle comes from the Latin endings -culus (masculine), -cula (feminine), and -culum (neuter), which originally designated diminutive nouns.

The second of these senses is in words borrowed from Latin where it formed verb nouns that denoted a place appropriate to the action of the verb or means by which the action is performed. The suffix -cle comes from Latin -cula and -culum by way of French or Old French.

What are variants of -cle?

A variant of -cle in both senses of the suffix is -cule, as in molecule or ridicule. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on -cule.

Examples of -cle with the sense "diminutive noun"

One example of an everyday term that uses the suffix -cle is particle, “a minute portion, piece, fragment, or amount; a tiny or very small bit.”

The part- part of the word means “portion” or “piece.” The suffix -cle means “small” and denotes a diminutive. Particle literally translates to “small part.”

What are some words that use the combining form -cle?

What are some other forms that -cle may be commonly confused with?

Not every word that ends with the exact letters -cle, such as treacle or icicle, is necessarily using the suffix -cle to denote “diminutive” or “place where verb or action is performed.” Learn why treacle means “sentimental” at our entry for the word.

Break it down!

The combining form arti- means “joint.” With this in mind, what does article literally translate to?

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