-ian

See also: ian, Ian, ían, iän, -ían, and -յան

English

Alternative forms

• -an, -n

Etymology

From Latin -ānus, which forms adjectives of belonging or origin from a noun.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iːən/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Suffix

-ian

1. (as an adjective) From, related to, or like.
2. (as a noun) One from, belonging to, relating to, or like.
3. (as a noun) Having a certain profession.

Usage notes

• When males with a profession are distinguished from females, males are -ian, females -ienne.

Related terms

• -ienne

Derived terms

related to

Arthurian Hermitian Lipschitzian

Newtonian utopian

belonging to

physician politician

magician

having a profession

comedian (compare comedienne)

Translations

related to

• Dutch: -isch (nl)
• French: -ien (fr)
• German: -isch (de)

• Italian: -iano m, -iana f
• Spanish: -iano m, -iana f

belonging to

• French: -ien (fr)

• Italian: -iano

having a profession

• Dutch: -iant

• French: -ien (fr)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• Latin: ^{(please verify)} -ianus

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Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *-ijaną

Suffix

-ian

1. (verbal suffix) used to form the infinitive of class 1 weak verbs (as well as a few strong verbs also ending in -ian like biddian or liggian, and class 3 weak verbs)

   wekkian "to awake" (class 1 weak verbs)

   seggian "to say" (class 3 weak verbs)