-ptile

English

Etymology

Representing the Ancient Greek πτῐ́λον (ptĭ́lon, “feather”, “down”; “leaf”); in the botanical sense denoting leaves, probably after the French -ptile. Compare ptilo-.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ptɪl/, /ptaɪl/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ptɪl/, /ptʌɪl/

Suffix

-ptile

1. (botany, forming adjectives and nouns) type of leaf

   coleoptile, endoptile, exoptile

2. (ornithology, forming nouns) type of plumage

   neossoptile, teleoptile, trichoptile

Usage notes

• Words formed with this suffix are traditionally stressed on the penult; however, authorities also cite pronunciations, featuring antepenultimate stress, which have developed more recently.

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -ptile

coleoptile

mesoptile

neoptile

Related terms

• hypoptilum

Translations

botany: leaf

French: -ptile m

ornithology: plumage

French: -ptile m

References

• Oxford English Dictionary (third edition, September 2007) s.v. “-ptile, comb. form”

Anagrams

• tiple

French

Etymology

Representing the Ancient Greek πτῐ́λον (ptĭ́lon, “feather”, “down”; “leaf”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ptil/

Suffix

-ptile m (noun-forming suffix, plural -ptiles)
-ptile (adjective-forming suffix, plural -ptiles)

1. (botany) -ptile (leaf)

   coléoptile

2. (ornithology) -ptile (plumage)

   pachyptile

Derived terms

French terms suffixed with -ptile

coléoptile

pachyptile