Globular comes from Latin globulus ('small sphere'), diminutive of globus ('ball, sphere'), with the suffix -ar. The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As an adjective, it carries the sense "shaped like a globe or sphere; composed of globules", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin globulus and Latin globus. Derivative forms include globularity, globularly; related words include globe, globule, global.