-eous

1. an adjectival suffix with the meanings “composed of,” “resembling, having the nature of,” occurring in loanwords from Latin (igneous; ligneous; vitreous ); also, as a semantically neutral suffix, found on adjectives of diverse origin, sometimes with corresponding nouns ending in -ty2 (beauteous; courteous; hideous; homogeneous; plenteous; righteous ).

-eous

suffix

1. relating to or having the nature of Compare -ious

   gaseous

Word History and Origins

Origin of -eous¹

< Latin -eus; -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of -eous¹

from Latin -eus

Example Sentences

The Reverend William Whewell, an influential man, objected on etymological grounds and suggested instead an "–eous" pattern, producing Meioneous, Pleioneous, and so on.

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Testū′dinate, -d, Testudin′eous, arched, vaulted, resembling the carapace of a tortoise.—n.

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Sanguin′eous, sanguine: resembling or constituting blood.—ns.

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Stramin′eous, strawy, light like straw.

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Self′-rev′erent; Self′-right′eous, righteous in one's own estimation: pharisaical.—n.

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