-ium - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Ium
From Latin -um (neuter singular morphological suffix), based on Latin terms for metals such as ferrum (“iron”).
-ium
- (chemistry) Used to form the names of metal elements, after the style of early-named elements, as well as the isotopes of hydrogen.
- (chemistry) Used to form the temporary systematic element name of a metallic or nonmetallic element which is postulated to exist, or which has been newly synthesized and has not yet been assigned a permanent name.
- (chemistry) Used to form the name of polyatomic cations.
- (by extension, humorous) Appended to common words to create scientific-sounding or humorous-sounding fictional substance names.
1997, Bryan Pfaffenberger, Official Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 book, page 34:
According to the FAQ, a site's coolness can be attributed to a trace element called coolium.
2007, Jason Lethcoe, Wishing Well, appendix, page ii:
Stupidium: Exposure to this Element can cause very silly behavior.
2009, Selena Kitt, Quickies, page 91:
We're at the North Pole, aren't we? Let's just call the new element Santa Clausium!
Reanalysis from multiple Latin or New Latin compounds suffixed with -ium, whose function, among others, is to derive parasynthetic compounds.
-ium (plural -iums, irregular plural -ia)
- Used to form the name of an aggregation or mass of something, such as biological tissue
- Forms the name of biological structures and parts.
Reanalysis of Latin words suffixed with -tōrium, -ārium and -ium.
-ium (plural -iums, irregular plual -ia)
- Used to indicate the setting where a given activity is carried out
Reanalysis of ammonium or from -onium of the same source.
-ium
- (pharmacology) Used to form names of quaternary ammonium compounds used as neuromuscular blocking agents, cholinergic agents, anticholinergic agents, antibacterials/antiseptics, or other agents.
- Alternative form: -onium
-ium
From -ius (suffix forming adjectives): as a nominal suffix (Suffix 1), a substantivisation of its neuter forms; as an adjectival suffix (Suffix 2), regularly declined forms. Compare Ancient Greek -ιον (-ion), Proto-Slavic *-ьje.
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): /i.um/, [iʊ̃ˑ]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /i.um/, [ium] (stressed on the antepenult)
-ium n (genitive -iī or -ī); second declension
- Suffix used to form abstract nouns, sometimes denoting offices and groups. May no longer be productive.
- (New Latin) Suffix appended to form names of chemical elements.
Second-declension noun (neuter).
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | -ium | -ia |
| Genitive | -iī -ī1 |
-iōrum |
| Dative | -iō | -iīs |
| Accusative | -ium | -ia |
| Ablative | -iō | -iīs |
| Vocative | -ium | -ia |
1Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).
- Norwegian Bokmål: -ium
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
-ium
- inflection of -ius:
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
-ium
- “-ium” on page 981/3 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)
From Latin -ium (forms names of chemical elements), from -ius (forms adjectives), from Old Latin -iōs, from Proto-Italic *-jos (forms comparative adverbs), from Proto-Indo-European *-yōs ~ *-is- (forms adjectives).
-ium
- Used to form nouns (loanwords) of Greek or Latin origin; -ium
- akvarium, evangelium, kriterium, kollegium, laboratorium, medium, privilegium, sanatorium, studium ― aquarium, gospel, criterion, college, laboratory, medium, privilege, sanatorium, study
- (chemistry) Used to form nouns denoting chemical compounds, especially elements; -ium
- barium, aluminium, beryllium, ammonium ― barium, aluminium, beryllium, ammonium
- (botany) Used to form nouns denoting plant designations; -ium
- geranium ― geranium
- (geology) Used to form nouns denoting geological designations; -ium
- alluvium, kambrium, ordovicium ― alluvium, cambrium, ordovicium
- “-ium” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).