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-ium. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-ium, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-ium in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-ium you have here. The definition of the word
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-ium, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Latin -um (“neuter singular morphological suffix”), based on Latin terms for metals such as ferrum (“iron”).
Suffix
-ium
- (chemistry) Used to form the names of metal elements, after the style of early-named elements, as well as the isotopes of hydrogen.
- (chemistry) Used to form the temporary systematic element name of a metallic or nonmetallic element which is postulated to exist, or which has been newly synthesized and has not yet been assigned a permanent name.
- (chemistry) Used to form the name of polyatomic cations.
- (by extension, humorous) Appended to common words to create scientific-sounding or humorous-sounding fictional substance names.
1997, Bryan Pfaffenberger, Official Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 book, page 34:According to the FAQ, a site's coolness can be attributed to a trace element called coolium.
2007, Jason Lethcoe, Wishing Well, appendix, page ii:Stupidium: Exposure to this Element can cause very silly behavior.
2009, Selena Kitt, Quickies, page 91:We're at the North Pole, aren't we? Let's just call the new element Santa Clausium!
- Used to form the name of an aggregation or mass of something, such as biological tissue: for example, epithelium, pollinium. Words so formed often form their plural with -ia.
- Used to indicate the setting where a given activity is carried out: for example, auditorium, colloquium, gymnasium, natatorium, planetarium, podium, sanatorium, stadium. Words so formed often take -ia for the plural.
- (pharmacology) Used to form names of quaternary ammonium compounds used as neuromuscular blocking agents, cholinergic agents, anticholinergic agents, antibacterials/antiseptics, or other agents.
- Alternative form: -onium
Derived terms
See also
Anagrams
Dutch
Suffix
-ium
- -ium
Latin
Etymology 1
From -ius (suffix forming adjectives): as a nominal suffix (Suffix 1), a substantivisation of its neuter forms; as an adjectival suffix (Suffix 2), regularly declined forms. Compare Ancient Greek -ιον (-ion), Proto-Slavic *-ьje.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-ium n (genitive -iī or -ī); second declension
- Suffix used to form abstract nouns, sometimes denoting offices and groups. May no longer be productive.
- auspex + -ium → auspicium
- dēsīderō + -ium → dēsīderium
- castellum (“castle”) + -ium → castilium (“fortified city”)
- (New Latin) Suffix appended to form names of chemical elements.
Declension
Second-declension noun (neuter).
1Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).
Derived terms
Descendants
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Suffix
-ium
- inflection of -ius:
- nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular
- accusative masculine singular
Etymology 3
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Suffix
-ium
- genitive plural of -s
References
Norwegian Bokmål
Etymology
From Latin -ium (forms names of chemical elements), from -ius (forms adjectives), from Old Latin -iōs, from Proto-Italic *-jos (forms comparative adverbs), from Proto-Indo-European *-yōs ~ *-is- (forms adjectives).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɪ.ʉm/
- Rhymes: -ʉm
- Hyphenation: -i‧um
Suffix
-ium
- Used to form nouns (loanwords) of Greek or Latin origin; -ium
- akvarium, evangelium, kriterium, kollegium, laboratorium, medium, privilegium, sanatorium, studium ― aquarium, gospel, criterion, college, laboratory, medium, privilege, sanatorium, study
- (chemistry) Used to form nouns denoting chemical compounds, especially elements; -ium
- barium, aluminium, beryllium, ammonium ― barium, aluminium, beryllium, ammonium
- (botany) Used to form nouns denoting plant designations; -ium
- geranium ― geranium
- (geology) Used to form nouns denoting geological designations; -ium
- alluvium, kambrium, ordovicium ― alluvium, cambrium, ordovicium
References
- “-ium” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).