Home British & World English -ous

Definition of -ous in English:

-ous

suffix

  • 1(forming adjectives) characterized by; of the nature of.

    ‘dangerous’
    ‘mountainous’

  • 2Chemistry
    (forming adjectives) denoting an element in a lower valency.

    ‘ferrous’
    Compare with -ic
    ‘sulphurous’

Origin

From Anglo-Norman French, or Old French -eus, from Latin -osus.

Pronunciation

-ous

/əs/