noun
- The ending of a word, especially an inflectional suffix that indicates grammatical function (such as case, number, tense, or person).
Usage: linguistics; grammar
Examples
- In Latin, the desinence -us typically marks the nominative singular masculine form.
- The desinence -ed in English past tense verbs shows that an action has already occurred.
- Linguists study desinences to understand how languages mark grammatical relationships.
- The desinence -ing indicates the present participle in English.
- Different desinences on the same root word can change its meaning and function entirely.