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-ite definition
-ite (īt)
- a native, inhabitant, or citizen of: Brooklynite
- a descendant from or offspring of: Israelite
- an adherent of, believer in, or member of: laborite
- a product, esp. a commercially manufactured one: Lucite, dynamite, vulcanite
- a fossil: ammonite
- a part of a body or bodily organ: somite
Origin: Fr, arbitrary alteration of -ate, -ate
a salt or ester of an acid whose name ends in -ous: nitrite, sulfite- a (specified) mineral or rock: anthracite, dolomite
Origin: ME < OFr or L or Gr: OFr -ite < L -ita, -ites < Gr -itēs, fem. -itis
-ite (īt; it)
forming adjectives, nouns, and verbs: finite
Origin: L -itus, ending of some past participles
-ite 1
suffix- Native or resident of: New Jerseyite.
- a. Descendant of: Levite.b. Adherent or follower of: Luddite.
- A part of an organ, body, or bodily part: somite.
- a. Rock; mineral: graphite.b. Fossil: trilobite.
- a. Product: metabolite.b. A commercial product: ebonite.
Origin: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin -ītēs, -īta, from Greek -ītēs.
-ite 2
suffix A salt or ester of an acid named with an adjective ending in -ous: sulfite.
Origin: Alteration of -ate2.
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