desinence

[ des-uh-nuhns ]

noun
  1. a termination or ending, as the final line of a verse.

  2. Grammar. a termination, ending, or suffix of a word.

Origin of desinence

1
1590–1600; <French <Medieval Latin dēsinentia, equivalent to Latin dēsinent- (stem of dēsinēns), present participle of dēsinere to put down, leave (dē-de- + sinere to leave) + -ia-ia; see -ence

Other words from desinence

  • des·i·nent, des·i·nen·tial [des-uh-nen-shuhl], /ˌdɛs əˈnɛn ʃəl/, adjective

Words Nearby desinence

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How to use desinence in a sentence

  • Conservation must, therefore, be the rule, and desinence the impossible exception.

    Life: Its True Genesis | R. W. Wright
  • Unquestionably the incomers from Brabant and Flanders, whether as troopers or artisans, gave a great impulse to the desinence.

British Dictionary definitions for desinence

desinence

/ (ˈdɛsɪnəns) /


noun
  1. grammar an ending or termination, esp an inflectional ending of a word

Origin of desinence

1
C16: from French désinence, from Latin dēsinēns ending, from dēsinere to leave off, from de- + sinere to leave, permit

Derived forms of desinence

  • desinent or desinential (ˌdɛsɪˈnɛnʃəl), adjective

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