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5.10: §40. The Latin suffix -LENTUS (> E -lent)

  • Page ID
    8359
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    The last suffix of this chapter, -lentus, is very close in meaning to -osus, since it also conveys the meaning “full of.” When this element was added to the base of a Latin noun, it had to be joined by a CONNECTING or LINKING VOWEL, a device about which we’ll hear more later. For the suffix -lentus, the linking vowel was usually U or O.

    E virulent (< L virulentus < virus) = “full of poison”
    E somnolent (< L somnolentus < somnus) = “full of sleep”
    E corpulent (< L corpulentus < corpus) = “full of body”

    Can you guess the etymological meanings of violent, turbulent, opulent, fraudulent, and flatulent? What about nebulous and facetious (§39)?


    This page titled 5.10: §40. The Latin suffix -LENTUS (> E -lent) is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Peter L. Smith (BCCampus) .

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