-ite

¹

1. a suffix of nouns denoting especially persons associated with a place, tribe, leader, doctrine, system, etc. ( Campbellite; Israelite; laborite ); minerals and fossils ( ammonite; anthracite ); explosives ( cordite; dynamite ); chemical compounds, especially salts of acids whose names end in -ous ( phosphite; sulfite ); pharmaceutical and commercial products ( vulcanite ); a member or component of a part of the body ( somite ).

-ite

²

1. a suffix forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives, and from some verbs:

   composite; opposite; erudite; requisite.

-ite

¹

suffix forming nouns

1. a native or inhabitant of

   Israelite

2. a follower or advocate of; a member or supporter of a group

   labourite

   Luddite

3. (in biology) indicating a division of a body or organ

   somite

4. indicating a mineral or rock

   peridotite

   nephrite

5. indicating a commercial product

   vulcanite

-ite

²

suffix forming nouns

1. indicating a salt or ester of an acid having a name ending in -ous

   a nitrite is a salt of nitrous acid

–ite

1. A suffix used to form the names of minerals, such as hematite and malachite.
2. A suffix used to form the name of a salt or ester of a specified acid whose name ends in –ous. Such salts or esters have one oxygen atom fewer than corresponding salts or esters with names ending in –ate. For example, a nitrite is a salt of nitrous acid and contains the group NO 2 , while a nitrate contains NO 3 .
3. Compare –ate

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ite¹

Middle English < Latin -ita < Greek -itēs; often directly < Greek; in some words representing French -ite, German -it, etc. < Latin < Greek, as above

Origin of -ite²

< Latin -itus or -ītus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ite¹

via Latin -ita from Greek -itēs or directly from Greek

Origin of -ite²

from French, arbitrary alteration of -ate ¹

Example Sentences

“Verification is an awful idea,” says 21-year-old student and social media-ite Emi Suzuki.

From The Daily Beast

Well, ef she aint de beatenes' w'ite 'oman dis side er kingdom come, you kin des shoot me.

From Project Gutenberg

The Ky-ro-ite landlord perhaps thought he ought to be well compensated for keeping a hotel in such a place.

From Project Gutenberg

"You can't cut no pigeon wing, w'ite boy," said 'Lias, Mammy's grandson.

From Project Gutenberg

Here is matrix opal, and here are numbers of strange-hued, crystalline gems with names all ending in "ite."

From Project Gutenberg

An acid terminating in -ous forms a salt ending in -ite, and an oxyacid ending in -ic forms a salt ending in -ate.

From Project Gutenberg