-an

Morpheme

-an

Type

suffix

Denotation

(1) adjective suffix denoting “pertaining to, characterized by, tending to”; (2) agent suffix; (3) chemical suffix

Etymology

(1) Middle English -an, -ain, -ein, -en; Old French -ain, -ein, -en; Latin -ānus and (2) Ancient Greek -anós

Evidence

American, Babylonian, bacchanalian, Canadian, civilian, comedian, Dominican, -ean, European, Floridian, furan, guardian, historian, -ian, Italian, Javan, Korean, librarian, lunarian, Mexican, Nubian, ovarian, pyran, Quinean, republican, Roman, steganography, theologian, urban, valedictorian, Wiccan, xylosan, Yugoslavian, Zambian

Notes

Latin -ānus and Ancient Greek -anós are cognate

See Also

-ane

Homographs

An, An, An, an-, an-, -an, an-

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