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-some

 - 8 dictionary results

-some

1
a native English suffix formerly used in the formation of adjectives: quarrelsome; burdensome.

Origin:
ME; OE -sum; akin to Goth -sama, G -sam; see same

-some

2
a collective suffix used with numerals: twosome; threesome.

Origin:
ME -sum, OE sum; special use of some (pronoun)

-some

3
a combining form meaning “body,” used in the formation of compound words: chromosome.
Also, -soma.


Origin:
< Gk sôma body; see soma 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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-some 1  
suff.  Characterized by a specified quality, condition, or action: bothersome.

[Middle English -som, from Old English -sum, -like; see sem-1 in Indo-European roots.]
-some 2  
suff.  A group of a specified number of members: threesome.

[Middle English -sum, from Old English sum, some; see some.]
-some 3  
suff.  
  1. Body: centrosome.

  2. Chromosome: monosome.


[From Greek sōma, body; see teuə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

-some 
as a suffix forming adjectives, it represents O.E. -sum (see some; cf. O.Fris. -sum, Ger. -sam, O.N. -samr), related to sama "same." As a suffix added to numerals meaning "a group of that number" (cf. twosome) it represents O.E. sum "some," used after the genitive plural (cf. sixa sum "six-some"), the inflection disappearing in M.E. Use of some with a number meaning "approximately" also was in O.E.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

-some suff.

  1. Body: centrosome.

  2. Chromosome: autosome.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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