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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.

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noun

duality

doo-AL-uh-tee/duːˈæləti/

A paired structure with two corresponding aspects.

The landscape and its reflection create a duality above and below the water.

One landscape reflected in still water, two distinct joined aspects, above and below clearly visible.
Etymology
duLatintwo
+alLatinof, relating to
+ityLatina quality or state

The endings turn “two” into a quality or state: being twofold. Duality therefore names the condition of having two parts or aspects, rather than the parts themselves.

In context

The Scroll of Shadows24:22
On one hand, a creature of brutal combat, on the other, a symbol of communal sustenance. This duality made the boar irresistible
25 Stunning Heraldry Designs and the Meaning Behind Knightly Symbols | Medieval History Guide

More examples

  • Her stern manner and gentle actions reveal a striking duality.
  • Light exhibits wave-particle duality.
  • This duality lets mathematicians translate results between the two theories.

Forms

duality · dualities

dual adjective — Having two parts, aspects, or functions.

Similar words

dichotomy
Emphasizes division into two sharply opposed categories or parts.
polarity
Emphasizes opposition between two extremes rather than paired correspondence.