Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

nona

1 American  
[noh-nuh] / ˈnoʊ nə /

noun

Pathology.
  1. sleeping sickness.


nona- 2 American  
  1. a combining form meaning “nine, ninth,” used in the formation of compound words.

    nonagon.


nona- British  

combining form

  1. nine

    nonagon

"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

Usage

What does nona- mean? Nona- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “nine” or “ninth.” It is used in a number of scientific and other technical terms.In chemistry, nona- is specifically used to indicate nine atoms or nine groups of atoms in compounds, e.g., nonapeptide.Nona- comes from the Latin nōnus, meaning “ninth.” The word noon also derives from the Latin nōna hōra, the “ninth hour” from sunrise. That means 12 o’clock noon was originally 3 p.m!The Greek word for “nine” is ennéa, source of the combining form ennea-, which you can learn more about in our Words That Use article for the form.What are variants of nona-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, nona- becomes non-, as in nonyl alcohol.However, in a great many more instances, the letters non- at the beginning of a word are the prefix non-, meaning "not," as in nonabrasive or nonacademic.

Etymology

Origin of nona

< Latin nōna ( hōra ) ninth (hour); i.e., late stage in life of patient

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At the time work by Mr. Cattelan — later notorious for his 1999 sculpture of Pope John Paul II struck by a meteorite, “La nona ora” — was selling for a few hundred dollars.

From New York Times • Sep. 7, 2010

Ia manawa, ua, maopopo lea i ka Makaula he Alii Nui ka mea nona keia anuenue e pio nei, a me na onohi elua i hoopuniia i na ao polohiwa apuni.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Beckwith, Martha Warren

O Kahauokapaka nae, oia ke Alii nona na okana elua, o Koolauloa a me Koolaupoko, a ia ia ka mana nui maluna o kela mau okana.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Beckwith, Martha Warren

Fiorenza dentro dalla cerchia antica, Ond'ella toglie ancora e terza e nona, Si stava in pace sobria e pudica.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 118, August, 1867 by Various

Hoi aku la o Halaaniani, a kokoke i ka manawa i kauo haia nona, alaila, ala mai la oia a halawai me kona kaikuahine.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Beckwith, Martha Warren