Morpheme
-it(e) [-ite, -it]
Type
suffix
Denotation
(1) noun and adjective suffix; (2) demonymic suffix; (3) chemical suffix naming chemical compounds (salts or esters of acids); (4) geologic suffix naming rocks and minerals
Etymology
Old French -ite; Latin -ītēs; Ancient Greek -ī́tēs
Evidence
anthropomorphite, bromite, calcite, cellulite, chlorite, dynamite, ekanite, eremite, favorite, ferrite, graphite, hostelite, Hutterite, iodite, Israelite, luddite, magnetite, Normalite, parasite, phosphite, polite, ruralite, socialite, suburbanite, sulfite, thorite, urbanite
Notes
originally formed generic adjectives, later productive for forming technical names of products, diseases, minerals and gems, ethnic designations, and Biblical tribal names
