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-i-

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology 1

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    Borrowed from Latin -i-.

    Interfix

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    -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
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    See also

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    References

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

    Etymology 2

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    The initial vowel of primate.

    Interfix

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    -i-

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

    Etymology 3

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

    Suffix

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    -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)
      dutibound (duty +‎ bound)
    Usage notes
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    • 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

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    Pronunciation

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    Interfix

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    -i-

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

    Derived terms

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    Finnish

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    Etymology 1

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

      Interfix

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      -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
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      • if the plural indicator is between two vowels it becomes -j-
        talon - talojenof the house - of the houses
      Derived terms
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      Further reading

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      • Hakulinen, Lauri. 1941–2000. Suomen kielen rakenne ja kehitys ('The Structure and Development of the Finnish Language'). Helsinki: Otava/Helsingin yliopisto.

      Etymology 2

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

        Interfix

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        -i-

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

        Further reading

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        • Hakulinen, Lauri. 1941–2000. Suomen kielen rakenne ja kehitys ('The Structure and Development of the Finnish Language'). Helsinki: Otava/Helsingin yliopisto.

        French

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        Etymology

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          Borrowed from Latin -i-.

          Interfix

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          -i-

          1. forms compounds

          Derived terms

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          Latin

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          Etymology

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          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

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          -i-

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

          Derived terms

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          Old Irish

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          Pronunciation

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          • 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

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          -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

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          Further reading

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          Old Polish

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          Etymology

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            Inherited from Proto-Slavic *-i-.

            Pronunciation

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            Interfix

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            -i-

            1. used in forming certain compounds

            Derived terms

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            Descendants

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            • Polish: -i-

            Polish

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            Alternative forms

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            Etymology

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              Inherited from Old Polish -i-.

              Pronunciation

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              Interfix

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              -i-

              1. used in forming certain compounds
                łamać + strajkłamistrajk

              Derived terms

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              See also

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              Further reading

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              • -i-”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN[1] (in Polish)

              Portuguese

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              Etymology

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                Borrowed from Latin -i-.

                Interfix

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                -i-

                1. forms compounds

                Derived terms

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                Spanish

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                Etymology

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                  Borrowed from Latin -i-.

                  Interfix

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                  -i-

                  1. forms compounds

                  Derived terms

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                  Swahili

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                  Infix

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                  -i-

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

                  See also

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                  Swahili verbal concords (third person)
                  class subject concord object concord relative
                  affirmative negative
                  m(I) a-, yu- ha-, hayu- -m-, -mw-, -mu- -ye
                  wa(II) wa- hawa- -wa- -o
                  m(III) u- hau- -u- -o
                  mi(IV) i- hai- -i- -yo
                  ji(V) li- hali- -li- -lo
                  ma(VI) ya- haya- -ya- -yo
                  ki(VII) ki- haki- -ki- -cho
                  vi(VIII) vi- havi- -vi- -vyo
                  n(IX) i- hai- -i- -yo
                  n(X) zi- hazi- -zi- -zo
                  u(XI) u- hau- -u- -o
                  ku(XV/XVII) ku- haku- -ku- -ko
                  pa(XVI) pa- hapa- -pa- -po
                  mu(XVIII) m-, mw-, mu- ham-, hamw-, hamu- -mu- -mo

                  For a full table including first and second person,
                  see Appendix:Swahili personal pronouns