-i-

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

English

Etymology 1

From Latin -i-.

Interfix

-i-

  1. (in coining neologisms) A vowel inserted interconsonantally between morphemes of Latinate origin in order to ease pronunciation (an anaptyxis, a linking vowel).
Derived terms
See also
  • -o- (the Greek parallel)

References

  • The Concise Oxford English Dictionary [Eleventh Edition] lists -i- as an entry.

Etymology 2

The initial vowel of primate.

Interfix

-i-

  1. (pharmacology) a monoclonal antibody derived from a non-human primate source
  • -mab is the base suffix common to all monoclonal antibodies. (See that entry for full paradigm.)
References
  • USP Dictionary of USAN and International Drug Names, U.S. Pharmacopeia, 2000

Etymology 3

A word-internal spelling variant of a word-final y.

Suffix

-i-

  1. A spelling variant of a word-final -y vowel when followed by a suffix that does not begin with an i, for example -ied, -ier, -iest.
    happiness (happy +‎ -ness)
    penniless (penny +‎ -less)
    beautiful (beauty +‎ -ful)
  2. In compound words, a spelling variant of a final or suffixed -y vowel in the first word.
    pantiliner (panty +‎ liner)
Usage notes

This convention applies to any final y vowel, not just to the suffix -y. It does not apply to digraph vowels ending in y and followed by a suffix -s, for example laylays (cf. laid, lain), nor to a single-letter y vowel before a suffix such as -ing that begin with an i, for example spying (cf. spies, spied). There is no pattern predicting when the spelling change happens; for example, penniless is far more common than pennyless, but babiless is very rare.

Czech

Interfix

-i-

  1. connecting two parts of some compound words
    konipas (kůň +‎ -i- +‎ pást)

Derived terms

Finnish

Etymology 1

From Proto-Finnic *-i-, from Proto-Uralic *-j (oblique plural marker).

Interfix

-i-

  1. Plural marker in nominal forms, except in nominative case, in which it is -t.
    talossa - taloissain the house - in the houses
Usage notes
  • if the plural indicator is between two vowels it becomes -j-
    talon - talojenof the house - of the houses
Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Proto-Finnic *-i-, from Proto-Uralic *-j (past tense marker).

Interfix

-i-

  1. Past tense marker in verbs.
    katson - katsoinI watch - I watched

Latin

Etymology

From the reduction of several historical unstressed short stem vowels during the Old Latin period. The reduced vowel was later reinterpreted as part of various suffixes.

Interfix

-i-

  1. Connecting vowel inserted between a stem and a suffix or other appended words in compound words.

Derived terms

Old Irish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ʲ] (realized on the following consonant)

Palatalization of a word-final consonant or consonant cluster is indicated by the insertion of an orthographic ⟨i⟩ before the letter(s) representing the consonant(s).

Simulfix

-i-

  1. Creates i-stem adjectives from prefixed bases.
    so- (good) + ‎nert (strength) + ‎-i- → ‎sonairt (strong, literally (with) good strength)
    dí- + ‎folud + ‎-i- → ‎deolaid (gratuitous)
    ess- (privative prefix) + ‎ómun (fear) + ‎-i- → ‎esamain (fearless)
  2. Marks various inflections, including:
    1. the genitive singular of masculine and neuter o-stem nouns and o/ā- and u-stem adjectives
    2. the vocative singular and nominative plural of masculine o-stem nouns and o/ā-stem adjectives
    3. the accusative and dative singular of feminine ā-stem nouns and o/ā- and u-stem adjectives
    4. the nominative, vocative and accusative dual of feminine ā-stem nouns
    5. the accusative and dative singular; nominative, vocative and accusative dual; and nominative plural of masculine and feminine consonant-stem nouns
    6. the dative singular of neuter consonant-stem nouns
    7. the third-person singular absolute and conjunct of suffixless preterite active verb forms
    8. the third-person singular absolute of present s-subjunctive active verb forms

Derived terms

Further reading

Old Polish

Pronunciation

Interfix

-i-

  1. used in forming certain compounds

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Polish: -i-

Polish

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish -i-.

Pronunciation

Interfix

-i-

  1. used in forming certain compounds
    łamać + strajkłamistrajk

Derived terms

See also

Further reading

  • -i- in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Spanish

Interfix

-i-

  1. forms compounds

Derived terms

Swahili

Infix

-i-

  1. it, them; mi class(IV)/n class(IX) object concord

See also