DictionaryRoot: -ant-
Latin
-ant-
doing or being something
Forms
- -ans
- -ant- — The longer form used before Latin endings.
Origin
A Latin action-describing ending, especially associated with verbs in -are; part of the older -nt- pattern.
Note
English often retains the longer -ant form after the Latin ending is removed.
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noun / adjective
irritant
IR-ih-tunt/ˈɪrɪtənt/
Something that provokes an uncomfortable response.
Etymology
The pieces describe something provoking or exciting a response. An adjective meaning “irritating” became a noun for the cause itself, whether it produces annoyance or physical inflammation.
Related word entries
- aberrant
- adjutant
- adulterant
- applicant
- arrogant
- ascendant
- aspirant
- celebrant
- concomitant
- consonant
- deviant
- dissonant
- dominant
- expectant
- expectorant
- hesitant
- immigrant
- important
- indignant
- informant
- inhabitant
- irritant
- jubilant
- lubricant
- luxuriant
- mendicant
- mutant
- occupant
- participant
- radiant
- recalcitrant
- relaxant
- reluctant
- repugnant
- resultant
- sibilant
- supplicant
- triumphant
- vacant
- variant
- vibrant