Where does “-ice” come from?

-ice (Middle English) comes from Middle English -ik, from Old French -ique, from Latin -icus, from Proto-Italic *-ikos — forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or pertaining to'.

-ice (Middle English): Alternative form of -ik

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of -ik

Ancestry of “-ice”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle English-ikAlternative form of -y; Forms nouns denoting a...
2Old French-ique-ic
3Latin-icusbelonging to; derived from; of or pertaining to;...
4Proto-Italic*-ikosforms adjectives with the sense of 'of or pertaining to'
Every word from Proto-Italic *-ikos →Every word from Latin -icus →Every word from Old French -ique →