-ine

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.

Origin of -ine

<Latin -īnus, -inus<Greek -inos

Compare -in¹.

Words Nearby -ine

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).

Origin of -ine

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

Compare -ina¹.

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 to: saturnine
consisting of or resembling: crystalline

Origin of -ine

from Latin -īnus, from Greek -inos

British Dictionary definitions for -ine (3 of 3)

-ine²

suffix forming nouns

indicating a halogen: chlorine
indicating a nitrogenous organic compound, including amino acids, alkaloids, and certain other bases: alanine; nicotine; purine

Also: -in indicating a chemical substance in certain nonsystematic names: glycerine
indicating a mixture of hydrocarbons: benzine
indicating a feminine form: heroine
an obsolete equivalent of -yne

Origin of -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

Browse