Middle English Dictionary Entry
-ǒus suf.
Entry Info
| Forms | -ǒus suf. Also -ọ̄s(e, -oes, -ois, -owes, -eus, -eux, -eous, -euous, -ewes, -eowes, -ious, -us, -ws, -uous, -uis, -wes, -es(se, -is, -iȝs, -s. |
| Etymology | OF -os, -ous, -eus, -eux & L -ōsus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A derivational suffix in adjectives; esp. in words of OF or L origin: anoious, barbarus, chevalrous, daungerous, disdeinous, eurous, fortunous, glandelous, grevous, hidous, joious, lapidose, perilous, ravenous, trecherous, etc.; also, in ME formations from OF or L stems: avisose, cruelous, debatous, deceivous, disclaundrous, jupartous, languishous, lecherous, troublous, etc.; less frequently in ME formations from OE or ON stems: gleimous, shamousli, wonderous, etc.; very rarely replacing other suffixes and combining forms [see gorgeouse & vars. of right-wise adj., wrong-wisli adv., courteis adj.; the MED is unable to augment the examples of substitution given by OD].
Associated quotations
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Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: See new entry dredefullous adj. which needs to be mentioned in this entry with its own explanation: the -ǒus derivational suffix in adjectives has been added to an adjective. (See drēdeful adj.).
Note: Add these endings to the form section:
1. -ǒuse. See, for example the Supplement entry for cō̆rdǒus adj.
2. -ǒux. See MED traitǒurǒus adj., sense (a), quot. (1470) Stonor 1.116. The form traitǒurǒus needs to be mentioned in the -ǒus entry, noting the French influence of the -ǒux suffix form.
3. -ǒuce. See the Supplement entry for grẹ̄vǒus adj., quot. a1500 Craft Dying 410.--notes per MLL