-ellus

Latin Etymology la diminutive :from -lus<id:diminutive> By la 1 of diminutives such as la libellus (la liber -lus) or la fēmella (la fēmina -lus -la), where the stem consonants -n- and -r- shifted to -l- by regressive assimilation; also from diminutives of diminutives such as la porcellus (la porculus -lus 1). The vowel la -e- appears because the diminutive suffix la -ulus descends from older itc-pro *-elos. Proto-Italic itc-pro *e was retracted and rounded to pre-Latin la -o- when followed by single itc-pro *l + a vowel other than itc-pro *i, and pre-Latin la -o- was reduced to Latin la -u- in non-initial syllables, causing a change of itc-pro *-elos to la *-olos to la -ulus. However, retraction did not affect itc-pro *e before 'la exilis' double itc-pro *ll: hence, itc-pro *e was retained in la -ellus. Pronunciation Suffix -ellus la -ulus la ager agrellus little field (compare this to la agellus, which is from la ager -lus 1) Usage notes The suffix -ellus is added to a noun to form a diminutive of that noun. la calamus reed calamellus little reed or pen When added to an adjective, it forms a diminutive of that adjective. la hirtus hairy hirtellus slightly hairy Declension -ellus Derived terms la Descendants rup -el -ãl ca -ell ext -illu frp -él fro -el roa-ang -iau roa-bbn -iau roa-cha -é -iau roa-brg -eâ roa-fcm -é -ia fr -eau roa-gal -ë -iao nrf -é iaô pcd -iau -ieu roa-poi -ea wa -ea gl -elo it -ello oc -el pt -elo ro -el sc -eddu roa-ole -iello ast -iellu -ieḷḷu,ast -iillu Mining Basins, Peñes roa-leo -iellu mwl -ielho osp -iello scn -eḍḍu la diminutive suffixes