-ian

views updated May 18 2018

-ian earlier also — yan, repr. ult. (sometimes through F. -ien), L. -iānus (see -I-, -AN), as in CHRISTIAN, Vergiliānus Virgilian, subsequently by modification of L. forms, as BARBARIAN, EQUESTRIAN, HISTORIAN, PATRICIAN; freely used in mod. formations on proper names, as in Devonian, Johnsonian, Pickwickian. See also -ARIAN, -ICIAN.

-ian

views updated May 08 2018

-ian The preferred suffix that is added to the geographical location of a type section or type area to form the name of a stage or age, e.g. ‘Dolgellian’, ‘Frasnian’, ‘Barremian’.

-ian

views updated May 17 2018

-ian The preferred suffix that is added to the geographical location of a type section or type area to form the name of a stage or age (e.g. Frasnian).