-ine

Save This Word!

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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Compare -in¹.

Origin of -ine

<Latin -īnus, -inus<Greek -inos

Other definitions 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

<French <Latin -ina, originally feminine of -inus; also representing Greek -inē, feminine noun suffix

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

How to use -ine in a sentence

There are distinct indications that a similar outfit was fairly common in Ine's time, and that its value was much the same.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
So wisliche wite ou in our blod letunge : and holde ou ine swuche reste .
Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250|Various
Lauerd 65 78 he cwe a. Nu ic e bidde for ine kinedome for ine engles.
Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250|Various
Iuliane e eadie onswerede him seide as eo at ine godd hire hope hefde.
Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250|Various

Maximian e modi keiser ine Rome heinde ant heriende heene mawmez.
Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250|Various

British Dictionary definitions for -ine (1 of 3)

Ine

/ (ˈɪnə, ˈɪnɪ) /

noun

died after 726, king of Wessex (688–726)

British Dictionary definitions for -ine (2 of 3)

-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 (3 of 3)

-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