rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: -alis
Latin

-alis

of, relating to

Forms

  • -alis
  • -aris — Latin variant especially used when the stem already contained l, avoiding a repeated l sound.
  • -al — English ending borrowed through French or directly from Latin.
  • -ar — English ending continuing Latin -aris.

Origin

An older Latin adjective-forming suffix; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.

Note

Expresses a relationship without specifying its kind: material, place, purpose, and other connections are possible.

90 / 336
The United States Capitol is shown as a clear isolated national-government building with a small flag and sparse ground; natural architectural ink, no political slogans.
adjective / noun

federal

FED-er-uhl/ˈfedərəl/

Of a national government in a system sharing authority with states.

Etymology
federLatincovenant, treaty, alliance
+alLatinof, relating to

The covenant root first linked federal to agreements, then to unions formed by agreement among states. Its national-government sense grew from the central authority of such a union.

Full entry

Related word entries