/ səˈpliːʃn; NAmE / noun
[ U ] ( linguistics ) the use of a word as a particular form of a verb when the word is not related to the main form of the verb, for example 'went' as the past tense of 'go'
► sup·ple·tive / səˈpliːtɪv; NAmE / adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French , from medieval Latin suppletio(n-) , from supplere fill up, make full, from sub- from below + plere fill.