-ine

1

a suffix of adjectives of Greek or Latin origin, meaning “of or pertaining to,” “of the nature of,” “made of,” “like”: asinine; crystalline; equine; marine.

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"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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Compare -in1.

Origin of -ine

1
< Latin -īnus, -inus < Greek -inos

Words nearby -ine

-ility, -im, -in, -ina, -inae, -ine, -ing, -ion, -ior, -ious, -isation

Definition for -ine (2 of 2)

-ine2

a suffix, of no assignable meaning, appearing in nouns of Greek, Latin, or French origin: doctrine; famine; routine.
a noun suffix used particularly in chemical terms (bromine; chlorine), and especially in names of basic substances (amine; aniline; caffeine; quinine; quinoline).Compare -in2.
a suffix of feminine nouns (heroine), given names (Clementine), and titles (landgravine).
Compare -ina1.

Origin of -ine

2
< French < Latin -ina, orig. feminine of -inus; also representing Greek -inē, feminine noun suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for -ine (1 of 2)

-ine1

suffix forming adjectives

of, relating to, or belonging tosaturnine
consisting of or resemblingcrystalline

Word Origin for -ine

from Latin -īnus, from Greek -inos

British Dictionary definitions for -ine (2 of 2)

-ine2

suffix forming nouns

indicating a halogenchlorine
indicating a nitrogenous organic compound, including amino acids, alkaloids, and certain other basesalanine; nicotine; purine
Also: -in indicating a chemical substance in certain nonsystematic namesglycerine
indicating a mixture of hydrocarbonsbenzine
indicating a feminine formheroine
an obsolete equivalent of -yne

Word Origin for -ine

via French from Latin -ina (from -inus) and Greek -inē
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

Medical definitions for -ine

-ine

suff.

or -in A chemical substance:bromine, amine, quinine.
Amino acid:glycine.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.