suppletion

[ suh-plee-shuhn ]

noun

, Grammar.

1. the use in inflection or derivation of an allomorph that is not related in form to the primary allomorph of a morpheme, as the use of better as the comparative of good.

suppletion

/ səˈpliːʃən /

noun

1. the use of an unrelated word to complete the otherwise defective paradigm of a given word, as for example the use of went for the past tense of go

Derived Forms

• supˈpletive, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suppletion¹

1275–1325; Middle English: supplementation, supplement < Medieval Latin supplētiōn- (stem of supplētiō ) a filling up, equivalent to supplēt ( us ), past participle of supplēre to make complete, ( sup- sup- + plē-, stem of plēre to fill ( full ¹ ) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of suppletion¹

C14: from Medieval Latin supplētiō a completing, from Latin supplēre to supply ¹