Where does this suffix originate from?

2 ⤊

Where does this suffix originate from?

From which word is the suffix -eval (as in Medieval or Primeval) derived, and from what language is it originally?

2006-11-26 04:18:31 · 2 answers · asked by Felix Q 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages

2 answers

It is from the Latin word aevum "age". Medieval is a blend of medium aevum "middle age" and primeval is a blend of primum aevum "first age". The English forms with -al instead of -um are a neo-Latin construction.

2006-11-26 05:02:11 · answer #1 · answered by Taivo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋

eval or aeval means age. It's latin. Medieval means 'middle age', Primeval means 'belonging to the first age'

2006-11-26 12:23:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋