-ain

-ain

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ain"

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃/
  • Audio (France (Lyon)):(file)
  • Audio (France (Lyon)):(file)
  • Audio (France (Somain)):(file)

Etymology 1

    Inherited from Middle French -ain, from Old French -ain, from Latin -ānus, whence also French -an and -ien.

    Suffix

    -ain m (noun-forming suffix, plural -ains, feminine -aine)

    1. suffix used to form noun (uppercase) demonyms
      Jamaïque + ‎-ain → ‎Jamaïcain
      Mexique + ‎-ain → ‎Mexicain
    2. suffix used to form adjective (lowercase) demonyms
      Jamaïque + ‎-ain → ‎jamaïcain
      Mexique + ‎-ain → ‎mexicain
    3. indicates the old oblique case (cas régime) of certain nouns
      pute + ‎-ain → ‎putain
    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

      Inherited from Middle French -ain, from Latin -āneus, whence also French -ané.

      Suffix

      -ain (adjective-forming suffix, feminine -aine, masculine plural -ains, feminine plural -aines)

      1. -aneous
        contemporaincontemporaneous

      Middle French

      Etymology 1

        From Old French -ain, from Latin -ānus.

        Suffix

        -ain

        1. -an (suffix forming adjectives from nouns)
        Derived terms
        Middle French terms suffixed with -ain (-an)
        Descendants
        • French: -ain

        Etymology 2

          From Latin -āneus, whence also -ané.

          Suffix

          -ain m (feminine singular -aine, masculine plural -ains, feminine plural -aines)

          1. -aneous
            contemporaincontemporaneous
            mediterrainmediterraneous
          Derived terms
          Middle French terms suffixed with -ain (-aneous)
          Descendants

          Old French

          Etymology

            From Latin -ānus.

            Suffix

            -ain

            1. Forms the oblique case, especially for feminine nouns.
              pute + ‎-ain → ‎putain
              none + ‎-ain → ‎nonain
            2. Forms adjectives from nouns.
              castel + ‎-ain → ‎castelain

            Descendants