Dictionary - Definition of -IC

Definition: -IC


Part of Speech	Definition
Expression	1. A suffix signifying, in general, relating to, or characteristic of; as, historic, hygienic, telegraphic, etc.[Websters] 2. A suffix, denoting that the element indicated enters into certain compounds with its highest valence, or with a valence relatively higher than in compounds where the name of the element ends in -ous; as, ferric, sulphuric. It is also used in the general sense of pertaining to; as, hydric, sodic, calcic.[Websters].
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)		Top

Extended Definition: -IC

The Modern English adjectival suffix -ic was first seen as a suffix in English during the Middle English period. It was borrowed in words from Old French '-ique', which came from Latin '-icus', which came ultimately from Ancient Greek '-ικος (-ikos)'. There are some that contend that '-icus' was native to Latin and was cognate with rather than borrowed from Greek. At any rate, the suffix -icus was very wide-spread by the Classical Latin period in native words as well as in words derived from Greek.^{[citation needed]}
It is also used in chemistry to denote certain chemical compounds in which a specified chemical element has a higher oxidation number than in the equivalent compound whose name ends in the suffix -ous. See Inorganic nomenclature.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "-ic". Image Credit.
bookmark email print tweet facebook

Topics by Level of Interest: -IC
Topics sorted by level of Interest	Level (1=low, 600=high)	Topics sorted Alphabetically	Level (1=low, 600=high)
-ic	3	-ic	3
Source: the editor, created by/for EVE to gauge likely levels of human interest in linguistically triggered topics (compiled across various sources, such as Wikipedia and specialty expression glosses).