-illus

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See also: illus.

Latin

Etymology

Rebracketing of diminutive suffix -lus on such nouns as sigillum (signum + -lus), used freely.

Pronunciation

Suffix

-illus

  1. Used to form diminutives of nouns.

Usage notes

The suffix -illus and variants (-illa, -illum) are used almost invariably to create the diminutive form of a noun.

Examples:
furcilla (very small fork), from furca (fork)
lapillus (very small stone, pebble, gem), from lapis (stone)
pūnctillum (very small dot), from punctum (point, spot)

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

Number Singular Plural
Case / Gender Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative -illus -illa -illum -illī -illae -illa
Genitive -illī -illae -illī -illōrum -illārum -illōrum
Dative -illō -illō -illīs
Accusative -illum -illam -illum -illōs -illās -illa
Ablative -illō -illā -illō -illīs
Vocative -ille -illa -illum -illī -illae -illa

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Sicilian: -iḍḍu, -illu
  • Spanish: -illo