uous

Uous is not a standalone word in English; rather, it is the final component of a group of adjectives formed with the suffix -uous. This ending is typically attached to a stem to denote a characteristic or quality, and the resulting words often derive from Latin through French influence.

Origins and formation

The ending -uous traces back to Latin suffixes such as -uosus, meaning full of or abounding in. In the transmission from Latin to English, via Old French and later stages of Middle English, many adjectives adopted the -uous ending. The result is a set of historically derived words that share a common orthographic pattern rather than a single productive modern rule.

Usage and meaning

Adjectives with the -uous ending generally describe a state, quality, or condition. They range from physical descriptions to moral or perceptual qualities. For example, tenuous describes something thin or weak; innocuous means not harmful; conspicuous indicates that something is easily seen; continuous signifies uninterrupted duration; virtuous denotes moral excellence. While some -uous adjectives retain precise and varied meanings, the suffix often signals an established, somewhat formal register and is less productive in contemporary word formation than more common endings like -ous or -ious.

Representative examples

Common -uous adjectives include tenuous, innocuous, conspicuous, continuous, and virtuous. Each demonstrates how the -uous ending contributes to a sense of a defined characteristic or condition, rather than a process or action.

See also

Etymology of Latin-derived English suffixes; English adjective endings; Latin suffix -uosus.