-ine
1a suffix of adjectives of Greek or Latin origin, meaning “of or pertaining to,” “of the nature of,” “made of,” “like”: asinine; crystalline; equine; marine.
Compare -in1.
Origin of -ine
1< Latin -īnus, -inus < Greek -inos
Definition for -ine (2 of 2)
-ine
2a 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. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for -ine (1 of 2)
-ine
1suffix 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)
-ine
2suffix 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
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Medicine 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.