-ites

[G. -ites, m. or -ites, n] An adjectival suffix to nouns, corresponding to Latin -alis, -ale, or -in us, -inum, or English -y, -like, or the hyphenated nouns. The adjective so formed is employed without the qualified noun; thus ascites is the short form of ho a skites hydrops, abdominal dropsy. The feminine form, -it is (agreeing with nosos, disease), is so often a ociated with inflammatory disease, that it has acquired in most cases the significance of inflammation. Tympanites is to tympanites oidema, the drum-like swelling or tumor, but tympanitis is he tympanitis nosos, the tympanic disease or inflammation of the tympanum, or drum of the ear. See also -ite.