-ous

• -ious
• -atous
• -uous

From Middle English -ous, borrowed from Old French -ous and -eux, from Latin -ōsus (“full, full of”). Doublet of -ose.

• IPA^(key): /əs/

-ous

1. Used to form adjectives from nouns, to denote possession or presence of a quality in any degree, commonly in abundance.

   ‎bulb + ‎-ous → ‎bulbous

   ‎courage + ‎-ous → ‎courageous

   ‎joy + ‎-ous → ‎joyous

   ‎poison + ‎-ous → ‎poisonous

   ‎riot + ‎-ous → ‎riotous

2. (chemistry) 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. For example sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) has more oxygen atoms per molecule than sulphurous acid (H₂SO₃). See Inorganic nomenclature.

• -y

• -osity
• -ose

Note - translations of English words ending in -ous do not necessarily end in the suffixes listed below.

• -ness
• -hood
• -ship
• -itas
• -itude
• -th
• -ia
• -itia
• -ity
• -ability
• -ibility
• -icity

• OSU, Sou, USO, sou

-ous

1. Alternative form of -us