-ite

¹ American  

1. a 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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-ite ² American  

1. a suffix forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives, and from some verbs.

   composite; opposite; erudite; requisite.

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-ite ¹ British  

suffix

1. a native or inhabitant of

   Israelite

2. a follower or advocate of; a member or supporter of a group

   Luddite

   labourite

3. (in biology) indicating a division of a body or organ

   somite

4. indicating a mineral or rock

   nephrite

   peridotite

5. indicating a commercial product

   vulcanite

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-ite ² British  

suffix

1. indicating a salt or ester of an acid having a name ending in -ous

   a nitrite is a salt of nitrous acid

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–ite Scientific  

1. A suffix used to form the names of minerals, such as hematite and malachite.

2. 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 NO ₂, while a nitrate contains NO ₃.

3. Compare –ate

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Etymology

Origin of -ite¹

Middle English < Latin -ita < Greek -itēs; often directly < Greek; in some words representing French -ite, German -it, etc. < Latin < Greek, as above

Origin of -ite¹

< Latin -itus or -ītus past participle suffix

Example Sentences

"I go out unveiled everyday to show that the opposition to the rulers is still alive, " said Minou, a 33-year-old woman in the holy Shi'ite city of Mashhad who said she was beaten and her brother was detained by security agents during the protests.

From Reuters

Revolutionary Shi'ite Muslim Iran and conservative, Sunni Saudi Arabia had feuded for years, backing opposing sides in wars and political struggles across the Middle East in a tussle for influence that fed conflicts and inflamed sectarian hatred.

From Reuters

Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations in 2016 after Iranian protesters stormed the kingdom's Tehran embassy following Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric.

From Reuters

After years of bad relations that fuelled proxy conflicts across the Middle East, where Tehran and Riyadh backed opposite sides from Yemen to Syria, the Shi'ite revolutionary Iran and the Sunni-led Kingdom reached an agreement to end a seven-year diplomatic rift.

From Reuters

Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Gulf’s dominant Sunni Muslim and Shi’ite Muslim powers, respectively, have said they would launch arrangements to reopen embassies and consulates within the two-month period stipulated in their deal brokered by China.

From Reuters