Standard Lemma guide

-ferous

suffix · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /-fəɹəs/

1

suffix

Meaning 1

Used to form adjectives from nouns, with the sense “bearing an entity or entities as specified by the noun”.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • flagellum + -i- + -ferous → flagelliferous (“bearing a flagellum”)
  • flos, floris + -i- + -ferous → floriferous (“bearing flowers”)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

suffix

Meaning 2

Used to form adjectives from nouns, with the sense “producing a material as specified by the noun”.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • nectar + -i- + -ferous → nectariferous (“producing nectar”)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

suffix

Meaning 3

Used to form adjectives from nouns, with the sense “containing a material as specified by the noun”.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • nickel + -i- + -ferous → nickeliferous (“containing nickel”)
  • cadmium + -i- + -ferous → cadmiferous (“containing cadmium”)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bher- Proto-Indo-European *bhéreti Proto-Italic *ferō Latin ferō Proto-Indo-European *h3ed- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h3édosder.? Proto-Italic *-ŏ̄dsos? Old Latin -ōssus Latin -ōsus Old French -usbor. Middle English -ous English -ous English -ferous From Latin ferō (“to bear”) + English -ous.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: -fer — producing a certain material
  • Czech: -ferní — producing a certain material
  • Czech: -nosný — producing a certain material
  • Hungarian: -term(el)ő — producing a certain material
  • Hungarian: -tartalmú — producing a certain material
  • Hungarian: -s — producing a certain material
  • Italian: -ifero — producing a certain material
  • Latin: -fer — producing a certain material
  • Spanish: -fero — producing a certain material