-ous

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Old French -ous and -eux, from Latin -osus (full, full of)

This definition is lacking an etymology or has an incomplete etymology. You can help Wiktionary by giving it a proper etymology.

[edit] Suffix

-ous

  1. Used to form adjectives from nouns.
    bulbous from bulb
    courageous from courage
    joyous from joy
    poisonous from poison
    riotous from riot
  2. (chemistry) Used in chemical nomenclature to name chemical compounds in which a specified chemical element has a lower oxidation number than in the equivalent compound whose name ends in the suffix -ic. For example sulphuric acid (H2SO4) has more oxygen atoms per molecule than sulphurous acid (H2SO3). See Inorganic nomenclature.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

Note - translations of English words ending in -ous do not necessarily end in the suffixes listed below.

[edit] See also

In other languages