I. noun suffix
or -ian also -ean
( -s )
Etymology: -an & -ian from Middle English -an, -ian, -ien, from Old French & Latin; Old French -ien, from Latin -ianus, from -i- + -anus, from -anus, adjective suffix; -ean from such words as Mediterranean, European
1. : one that is of or belonging to
Americ an
Boston ian
2. : one skilled in or specializing in — especially in derivatives from nouns ending in -ic or -ics, in the latter case with loss of -s
dialectic ian
phonetic ian
statistic ian
3. : one belonging to a (specified) zoological group
crustace an
mammali an
crocodili an
II. adjective suffix
or -ian also -ean
Etymology: -an & -ian from Middle English -an, -ian, -ien, from Old French & Latin; Old French -ien, from Latin -ianus, from -i- + -anus; -ean from such words as Mediterranean, European
1. : of or belonging to
Americ an
Florid ian
Wesley an
2. : characteristic of : resembling
Mozart ean
Shav ian
3. : of or belonging to a (specified) geologic period, epoch, or series
Cambri an
III. noun suffix
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary -an, -ane, alteration of -ene, -ine, & -one
1. : unsaturated carbon compound
tol an C 6 H 5 C≡CC 6 H 5
ureth an
— especially in names of heterocyclic compounds
fur an
allox an
— compare -ane
2.
a. : anhydride representing a polymer of a carbohydrate — usually replacing final -ose of the carbohydrate name
xyl an
dextr an
less often replacing final -e
pentos an
b. : intramolecular anhydride of a carbohydrate — replacing final -e of the carbohydrate name
β-glucos an