-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).

Origin of -eous

<Latin -eus;see -ous

Words Nearby -eous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use -eous in a sentence

Self′-rev′erent; Self′-right′eous, righteous in one's own estimation: pharisaical.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) | Various
Consanguine, kon-sang′gwin, adj. related by blood: of the same family or descent—also Consanguin′eous.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) | Various
Membranous or eous: composed of membrane or skin-like tissue.
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology | John. B. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for -eous

-eous

suffix forming adjectives

relating to or having the nature of: gaseous Compare -ious

Origin of -eous

from Latin -eus

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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