-i-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "i"

English

Etymology 1

From Latin.

Interfix

-i-

1. (in coining neologisms) A vowel inserted interconsonantally between morphemes of Latinate origin in order to ease pronunciation (an anaptyxis, a linking vowel).

Derived terms

Derived terms

• equi- (equidistant)
• -iferous (sudoriferous)

• -iform (cuneiform, setiform)
• -ify (Frenchify)

See also

• -k-
• -o- (the Greek parallel)

References

• The Concise Oxford English Dictionary [Eleventh Edition] lists -i- as an entry.

Etymology 2

The initial vowel of primate

Interfix

-i-

1. (pharmacology) a monoclonal antibody derived from a non-human primate source

Related terms

• -mab is the base suffix common to all monoclonal antibodies. (See that entry for full paradigm.)

References

• USP Dictionary of USAN and International Drug Names, U.S. Pharmacopeia, 2000

Etymology 3

From -y.

Suffix

-i-

1. Alternative form of -y (“having the quality of”)

Usage notes

Spelling change, used when followed by another suffix such as -ness, as in mess → messy → messiness, or -ly as in messily.

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Finnish

Clitic

-i-

1. Indicator of plural in nominal forms, except in nominative case, in which it is -t.

   talossa - taloissa ― in the house - in the houses

Usage notes

• if the plural indicator is between two vowels it becomes -j-

  talon - talojen ― of the house - of the houses

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Latin

Etymology

From the reduction of several historical unstressed short stem vowels during the Old Latin period. The reduced vowel was later reinterpreted as part of various suffixes.

Interfix

-i-

1. Connecting vowel inserted between a stem and a suffix in compound words.

Derived terms

• -ifer
• -ifex
• -ificō
• -ificus