iiii
Definition(s) of “I”
i
symbol ( i ) Mathematics
the imaginary quantity equal to the square root of minus one. Compare with j .
-i 1
suffix forming the plural:
1 of nouns adopted from Latin ending in -us: : foci | timpani.
2 of nouns adopted from Italian ending in -e or -o: : dilettanti.
USAGE The suffix -i is one of several suffixes in the English language that form foreign plurals ( -a and -ae are two others). Many nouns derived from a foreign language retain their foreign plural, at least when they first enter English and particularly if they belong to a specialized field. Over time, however, it is quite normal for a word in general use to acquire a regular English plural. This may coexist with the foreign plural (e.g., there are two equally acceptable plurals of cactus: the Latin form cacti and the English form cactuses), or it may actually oust a foreign plural (e.g., there is now one standard plural of octopus: the English form octopuses, which has supplanted the Greek form octopodes).
-i 2
suffix
forming adjectives from names of countries or regions in the Near or Middle East : Azerbaijani | Pakistani.
ORIGIN from Semitic and Indo-Iranian adjectival endings.
-i-
suffix
a connecting vowel chiefly forming words ending in -ana, -ferous, -fic, -form, -fy, -gerous, -vorous. Compare with -o- .
I 1 |ī| (also i)
noun ( pl. Is or I's)
1 the ninth letter of the alphabet.
• denoting the next after H in a set of items, categories, etc.
2 the Roman numeral for one.
PHRASES
dot the i's and cross the t's see dot 1 .
I 2
pronoun [ first person singular ]
used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself : accept me for what I am.
noun ( the I) Philosophy
(in metaphysics) the subject or object of self-consciousness; the ego.
ORIGIN Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ik and German ich, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin ego and Greek egō.
USAGE On whether it is correct to say : between you and I or : between you and me , see usage at between and personal pronoun . On whether it is correct to say : Rachel and I went to Paris or : Rachel and me went to Paris, see usage at personal pronoun .
I 3
abbreviation
• Independent.
• (preceding a highway number) Interstate.
• ( I.) Island(s) or Isle(s) (chiefly on maps).
symbol
• electric current : V = I/R.
• the chemical element iodine.
iodine |ˈīəˌdīn|
noun
the chemical element of atomic number 53, a nonmetallic element forming black crystals and a violet vapor. (Symbol: I)
• a solution of this in alcohol, used as a mild antiseptic.
A member of the halogen group, iodine occurs chiefly as salts in seawater and brines. As a constituent of thyroid hormones, it is required in small amounts in the body, and deficiency can lead to goiter.
ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from French iode (from Greek iōdēs ‘violet-colored,’ from ion ‘violet’ + -eidēs ‘like’ ) + -ine 4 .