ont-
variant of onto- before a vowel.
ont-
1 American
-ont
2
American
Ont.
3
American
abbreviation
Ont.
British
abbreviation
Usage
What does ont- mean? Ont- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “being.” It is occasionally used in technical terms, especially in philosophy. The form ont- comes from Greek ṓn, meaning “being.” The Latin equivalents are ēns, ent- and essent- “being,” which are the sources of entity and essence. Ont- is a variant of onto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. When used as a suffix at the end of a word, ont- becomes -ont, as in diplont. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for onto- and -ont.
What does -ont mean? The combining form -ont is used like a suffix to mean “being.” It is very occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology. The form -ont comes from Greek ṓn, meaning “being.” The Latin equivalents are ēns, ent- and essent- “being,” which are the sources of entity and essence. When used as a prefix at the beginning of a word, -ont becomes ont- or onto-, as in ontogeny or ontic. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for ont- and onto-.
Etymology
Origin of -ont
< Greek -ont stem of ṓn “being,” present participle of eînai “to be” ( cf. onto- ( def. ))
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.
See Examples For:
They are formed in the Active by means of the endings -ant, -int, and -ont, and in the Passive by means of the endings -at, -it, -ot, with the addition of the adjectival termination -a.
From Esperanto Self-Taught with Phonetic Pronunciation by Mann, William W.
The future participle active is formed by -ont.
From International Language Past, Present and Future: With Specimens of Esperanto and Grammar by Clark, Walter John
Proponents of involuntary treatments, like Patrick Brown, the mayor of Brampton, Ont., claim “the old approach isn’t working.”
From Salon ● Nov. 17, 2024
Stellantis has said that starting in 2024 it will spend $2.8 billion to retool the Brampton, Ont. factory that builds the Charger and Challenger to assemble vehicles that "support the company's electrification plans."
From Reuters ● Aug. 15, 2022
Drew Doughty and Carter are from London, Ont.; games in Toronto allow them to visit with family and friends.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2016
In 1862, Simon Fraser, who explored the B.C. river that bears his name, died in St. Andrews West, Ont., at 85.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 17, 2015
Hope, Ont. is not favorable, not only for English walnuts but even for native black walnuts, though very favorable to hickories.
From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 43rd Annual Meeting Rockport, Indiana, August 25, 26 and 27, 1952 by Northern Nut Growers Association
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
