suffixfirst/second-declension suffix
-usculus
-usculus (feminine -uscula, neuter -usculum)
Classical[ˈʊs.kʊ.ɫʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈus.ku.lus]
Meaning
- morphemesuffixuncommonSuffix forming diminutives from nouns. Ultimately an extended form of -ulus.
herba (“plant, herb”) → herbuscula (“little plant”)
Origins
From the diminutive suffix -culus (itself from -ulus), by rebracketing of diminutives derived from original s-stem nouns and adjectives, such as opusculum (“little work”) from opus, operis n (“work”) and meliusculus (“a little better”) from melior, melius, meliōr- (“better”).
Descendants
- Spanish-ucho
- Portuguese-ucho