online medical dictionary | definition of -an

<suffix>

1. A suffix used to form adjectives and nouns, especially from names of places, systems, zoological classes or orders, and founders (Mexican; Anglican; crustacean; European; Lutheran; Georgian; theologian).

2. <chemistry> forming names of organic compounds (dextran).

See: -ean, -ian.

Origin: ultimately from Latin adjectival endings -ianus, -aeus: cf. Greek -aios, -eios

(06 Feb 2009)

<prefix>

Means not, without.

It is used before words beginning with a vowel sound (an egg; an hour; an MP). Some people retain the use of an before words beginning with a sounded 'h' e.g. an hotel, an historian. Historically this was justifiable because the h- was dropped in these words, but today this is not the case and a hotel, a historian are now the preferred forms.

Origin: Greek an-

(05 Feb 2009)