-ous

[OF. -ous, us, -os, F. -eux, fr. L. -osus, and -us. Cf. -ose.]

1. An adjective suffix meaning full of, abounding in, having, possessing the qualities of, like; as in gracious, abounding in grace; arduous, full of ardor; bulbous, having bulbs, bulblike; riotous, poisonous, piteous, joyous, etc.

2. (Chem.) A suffix denoting that the element indicated by the name bearing it, has a valence lower than that denoted by the termination -ic; as, nitrous, mercurous, ferrous, sulphurous, etc., as contrasted with nitric, mercuric, ferric, sulphuric, etc.

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-ous is an English suffix with the following uses.

It is used to create adjectives that describe a quality of the described object derived from the nature of the word the suffix is derived from. For example, "porous surface" means a surface with a special quality: a significant presence of pores. In this function it is similar to the suffixes -en ("wooden"), -ic ("artistic").

In chemistry this suffix has a special function. It is used in chemical nomenclature to name chemical compounds in which a specified chemical element has a lower oxidation number than in the equivalent compound whose name ends in the suffix -ic. See Inorganic nomenclature.

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