-ine Hear it!

-ine¹ Definition

-ine (īn, in, ēn, ən)

of, having the nature of, like aquiline, crystalline

Etymology: Fr -in, -ine < L -inus, masc., -ina, fem., -inum, neut. < Gr -inos: also directly < L for modern scientific words

-ine² Definition

-ine (in, ən)

forming abstract nouns discipline, doctrine

Etymology: Fr < L -ina, suffix of fem. abstract nouns

-ine³ Definition

-ine (ēn, in, īn, ən)

  1. a chemical of any of certain groups, as
    1. a halogen iodine
    2. an alkaloid or a nitrogenous base morphine
    3. any of certain hydrides stibine
    4. an amino acid alanine
  2. any of certain commercial products Vaseline

Etymology: arbitrary use of L -inus, masc., -ina, fem., n. & adj. ending