-a en · X · etymology 3
Pronunciation
- /ə/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- ə (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin -a (nominative first declension neuter singular suffix)
Meanings
- (morpheme) Marks singular nouns, with a foundation in Greek or Latin, often implying femininity, especially when contrasted with words terminating in -us.
-
(morpheme) Changes an element or substance into an oxide.
magnesium + -a → magnesia
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ae | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| -as | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
he- (antonym(s) of “feminine suffix”)