Middle English Dictionary Entry
-āl suf.
Entry Info
| Forms | -āl suf. |
| Etymology | L -āl-is & OF -al, forming adjs. on nouns, less commonly on adjs. In ME, the synonymous suf. -ē̆l (from OF) competes with -āl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In numerous adjs. taken from Latin, either directly or by way of Old French, as annu-al, -el, cordi-al, formal, -el, funer-al, gener-al, mort-al, natur-al, tempor-al, -el; (b) in a number of learned ME coinages (esp. by Pecock), as cunning-al, destin-al, end-al, men-al.
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2.
In a number of nouns (from adjs.) taken from L or OF, as animal, portal, tribunal.
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