suppletion

[ suh-plee-shuhn ]

/ səˈpli ʃən /

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noun Grammar.

the use in inflection or derivation of an allomorph that is not related in form to the primary allomorph of a morpheme, as the use of better as the comparative of good.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of suppletion

1275–1325; Middle English: supplementation, supplement <Medieval Latin supplētiōn- (stem of supplētiō) a filling up, equivalent to supplēt(us), past participle of supplēre to make complete, (sup-sup- + plē-, stem of plēre to fill (see full¹) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn--ion

Words nearby suppletion

Supplemental Security Income, supplementary, supplementary angle, supplementary angles, supplementation, suppletion, suppletive, suppletory, Supplex, suppliance, suppliancy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for suppletion

suppletion

/ (səˈpliːʃən) /

noun

the use of an unrelated word to complete the otherwise defective paradigm of a given word, as for example the use of went for the past tense of go

Derived forms of suppletion

suppletive, noun, adjective

Word Origin for suppletion

C14: from Medieval Latin supplētiō a completing, from Latin supplēre to supply 1

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