— desinent, desinential /des'euh nen"sheuhl/ , adj.
/des"euh neuhns/ , n.
1. a termination or ending, as the final line of a verse.
2. Gram. a termination, ending, or suffix of a word.
[ 1590-1600; desinentia, equiv. to L desinent- (s. of desinens ), prp. of desinere to put down, leave ( de- DE- + sinere to leave) + -ia -IA; see -ENCE ]