DictionaryRoot: -arius
Latin

-arius

connected with; a person concerned with

Forms

  • -arius
  • -ary — The ending shortened in French and English.
  • -aire — One French development of the ending.

Origin

A Latin ending for relationships, occupations, and associated things.

Note

Its descendants can name a person, a place, or a quality; the surrounding word determines the contribution.

75 / 100
Close rotary machine shaft spinning around fixed axle.
adjective / noun

rotary

ROH-tuh-ree/ˈrəʊtəri/

Operating by turning around an axis.

Etymology

The pieces express 'pertaining to wheels.' A wheel's movement supplies the central image: rotary describes motion that turns around a central point or axis.

Full entry

Related word entries