INE

Ine is primarily a suffix used in English to form adjectives and nouns that indicate a relation, quality, or substance. It is productive in word formation and appears in a range of common and technical terms. The suffix often derives from Latin or French origins and can carry meanings such as belonging to, connected with, resembling, or made of.

In everyday language, -ine produces adjectives that describe a characteristic or relation, such as feminine (relating to women), canine (relating to dogs), marine (relating to the sea), and saline (containing or resembling salt). The form also helps create nouns, including names for substances or conditions, as in caffeine or chlorine.

In chemistry, -ine is notably used in the names of halogens—fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. It also appears in various compound names and in older or alternate spellings of certain substances (for example, glycerine as an older form of glycerin). The suffix helps designate elemental identities and certain derived substances, though its use spans many non-chemical words as well.

Etymologically, the English -ine suffix traces to Latin -inus, via Old French or Middle English. It is one of several derivational endings that English has borrowed to expand its array of adjectives and nouns.

Overall, -ine is a versatile, widely used suffix in English that signals a range of meanings related to relation, nature, or composition, with a particularly recognizable role in the naming of halogens and related chemical terms.