-ous

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /əs/

Suffix

1. Used to form adjectives from nouns, to denote possession or presence of a quality in any degree, commonly in abundance.

   bulb + -ous → bulbous

   courage + -ous → courageous

   joy + -ous → joyous

   poison + -ous → poisonous

   riot + -ous → riotous

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.

Synonyms

• -y

Related terms

• -osity
• -ose

Translations

• French: -eux, -euse
• German: -haft, -ös
• Italian: -oso, -osa
• Portuguese: -oso
• Russian: -о́зный
• Spanish: -oso, -udo

Translations

• Russian: -истый
• Spanish: -oso

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