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definitions

desinence

[des-uh-nuh ns]
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

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
Related formsdes·i·nent, des·i·nen·tial [des-uh-nen-shuh l] /ˌdɛs əˈnɛn ʃəl/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for desinence

Historical Examples of desinence

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

  • 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

noun
  1. grammar an ending or termination, esp an inflectional ending of a word
Derived Formsdesinent or desinential (ˌdɛsɪˈnɛnʃəl), adjective

Word Origin for desinence

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