-ite
1a suffix of nouns denoting especially persons associated with a place, tribe, leader, doctrine, system, etc. (Campbellite; Israelite; laborite); minerals and fossils (ammonite; anthracite); explosives (cordite; dynamite); chemical compounds, especially salts of acids whose names end in -ous (phosphite; sulfite); pharmaceutical and commercial products (vulcanite); a member or component of a part of the body (somite).
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Compare -itis.
Origin of -ite
1Middle English < Latin -ita < Greek -itēs; often directly < Greek; in some words representing French -ite, German -it, etc. < Latin < Greek, as above
Definition for -ite (2 of 2)
-ite
2a suffix forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives, and from some verbs: composite; opposite; erudite; requisite.
Origin of -ite
2< Latin -itus or -ītus past participle suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for -ite (1 of 2)
-ite
1suffix forming nouns
a native or inhabitant ofIsraelite
a follower or advocate of; a member or supporter of a groupLuddite; labourite
(in biology) indicating a division of a body or organsomite
indicating a mineral or rocknephrite; peridotite
indicating a commercial productvulcanite
Word Origin for -ite
via Latin -ita from Greek -itēs or directly from Greek
British Dictionary definitions for -ite (2 of 2)
-ite
2suffix forming nouns
indicating a salt or ester of an acid having a name ending in -ousa nitrite is a salt of nitrous acid
Word Origin for -ite
from French, arbitrary alteration of -ate 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Science definitions for -ite
-ite
A suffix used to form the names of minerals, such as hematite and malachite.
A suffix used to form the name of a salt or ester of a specified acid whose name ends in -ous. Such salts or esters have one oxygen atom fewer than corresponding salts or esters with names ending in -ate. For example, a nitrite is a salt of nitrous acid and contains the group NO2, while a nitrate contains NO3. Compare -ate.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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