suppletion

C2+ Topic:Communication

US /səˈpliʃən/ UK /səˈpliːʃən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
in linguistics, the use of an unrelated form to complete a word's paradigm

The pair 'go' and 'went' is a classic example of suppletion in English.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · in linguistics, the use of... substitution replacement

Word family

Derived forms suppletive

Related forms supply supplementsupplete

Etymology

From Medieval Latin suppletio ('a supplying, filling up'), from Latin supplere ('to fill up, supply'), from sub- ('up from below') + plere ('to fill'); the linguistic sense is a modern technical use.

suppletio Latin plēre Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication Language & Linguistics Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# suppletion

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /səˈpliʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /səˈpliːʃən/

## Meanings
1. in linguistics, the use of an unrelated form to complete a word's paradigm

## Examples
- The pair 'go' and 'went' is a classic example of suppletion in English.

## Synonyms
- substitution
- replacement

## Derived Forms
- suppletive

## Related Forms
- supply
- supplement
- supplete

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: suppletio
- Root: plēre

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin suppletio ('a supplying, filling up'), from Latin supplere ('to fill up, supply'), from sub- ('up from below') + plere ('to fill'); the linguistic sense is a modern technical use.

## AI Etymology
Suppletion is from Medieval Latin suppletio ('a supplying, filling up'), from Latin supplere ('to fill up, supply'), from sub- ('up from below') + plere ('to fill'); the linguistic sense is a modern technical use. Important recorded forms include suppletio (Latin) and plēre (Latin). Morphologically, the sub- element contributes the sense of under, below, secondary status, or movement from beneath, with the base naming the field of application. The semantic development is already visible in the history: an older concrete or specialized use was extended into the modern meaning rather than replaced by a separate origin. In current use it covers in linguistics, the use of an unrelated form to complete a word's paradigm. The wider family includes derived forms such as suppletive and related words such as supply, supplement, and supplete.

## Topics
- Communication
- Language & Linguistics
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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