- -ine (1)
- suffix used to form adjectives from nouns, from French -ine, fem. of -in, or directly from Latin -inus "of, like."
- -ine (2)
- chemical suffix, sometimes -in, though modern use distinguishes them; early 19c., from French -ine, from Latin -ina, fem. form of suffix used to form adjectives from nouns. In French commonly used to form words for derived substances, hence its extended use in chemistry.