-ious

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variant of -ous, added to stems of Latin origin, often with corresponding nouns ending in -ity: atrocious; hilarious.

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Compare -eous.

Origin of -ious

Middle English ≪ Latin -iōsus (see -i-, -ose¹) and Latin -ius (masculine singular adj. ending, as in varius)

Words nearby -ious

iotacism, iothalamate sodium, iothalamic acid, Iō-tō, IOU, -ious, IOW, Iowa, Iowa City, Iowan, ioxaglate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use -ious in a sentence

In 2009, California, the largest state, nearly ran out of money and had to issue IOUs.
Wall Street’s Disconnect|Daniel Gross|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
We need to stop writing IOUs to the next budget and delaying payments we know will come due.
In State of the State Addresses, Governors Keep Their Eyes on 2016|David Freedlander|January 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Plus, the giving landed Pataki 101 IOUs from candidates throughout the country.
George Pataki: Former Governor, Future President?|Samuel P. Jacobs|December 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Ophid′ian, Ophid′ious, pertaining to serpents: having the nature of a serpent.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)|Various

The hab-it of hold-ing these din-ners is a per-nic-ious one and must be stamp-ed out.
Behind the Line|Ralph Henry Barbour
What, you're afraid of having what we call bill-ious fever, I suppose, eh?
The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, Vols. I to III|Cuthbert Bede
Then looking around the room at the piles of ironed clothes, he added: "You sutny is a indust'ious ooman."
The heart of happy hollow|Paul Laurence Dunbar
Bil′iary, belonging to or conveying bile; Bil′ious, pertaining to or affected by bile.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for -ious

-ious

suffix forming adjectives

characterized by or full ofambitious; religious; suspicious Compare -eous

Word Origin for -ious

from Latin -ius and -iōsus full of

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012