-mente

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See also: mente, ménte, menté, and mentė

Asturian

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Etymology

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From Latin mente.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈmente/, [ˈmẽn̪.t̪e]

Suffix

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-mente (adverb-forming suffix)

  1. Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.

Derived terms

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Galician

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Etymology

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Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese -mente, from Latin mente. Compare Portuguese -mente.

Suffix

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-mente (adverb-forming suffix)

  1. Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.

Derived terms

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Interlingua

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Etymology

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From Spanish -mente and other Romance descendants of Latin mente.

Suffix

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-mente

  1. Attaches to an adjective to form the corresponding adverb.
    physicamente (physically)

Usage notes

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After a final -c the vowel -a- is inserted, e.g. physicamente (note use of physica rather than physic; *physicmente would be incorrect)

Derived terms

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Italian

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Etymology

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Latin mente.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈmen.te/
  • Rhymes: -ente
  • Hyphenation: -mén‧te

Suffix

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-mente

  1. Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.

Usage notes

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  • Because the suffix originates as a reinterpretation of the Latin feminine noun form mente in ablatival locutions [such as clārā mente (literally with a clear mind), whence Italian chiaramente]; if the root adjective ends in -o, in formation of the adverb it is employed in its feminine singular form.
Examples:
chiara (clear) + ‎-mente → ‎chiaramente (clearly)
fisica (physical) + ‎-mente → ‎fisicamente (physically)
stupida (stupid”, “foolish) + ‎-mente → ‎stupidamente (stupidly”, “foolishly)
  • Adjectives ending in -e, not distinguishing masculine and feminine forms, simply have the suffix attached to the singular form.
Example:
grande (great) + ‎-mente → ‎grandemente (greatly)
  • When the root adjective ends in -le, -lo, -re or -ro, the suffix is attached directly to the consonant and the final vowel of the adjective is dropped.
Examples:
speciale (special) + ‎-mente → ‎specialmente (especially”, “particularly)
celere (swift) + ‎-mente → ‎celermente (swiftly)
  • Terms derived with this suffix are invariably stressed on the penultimate.

Derived terms

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Neapolitan

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Etymology

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From Latin mente.

Pronunciation

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Suffix

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-mente

Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.

Old Galician-Portuguese

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Etymology

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Inherited from Latin mente.

Suffix

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-mente

  1. Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.
    cruu (cruel) + ‎-mente → ‎cruamente (cruelly)
    forte (strong) + ‎-mente → ‎fortemente (strongly)
    primeiro (first) + ‎-mente → ‎primeiramente (firstly)

Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Galician: -mente
  • Portuguese: -mente

Portuguese

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Etymology

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Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese -mente, from Latin mente. Compare Galician -mente.

Pronunciation

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Suffix

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-mente

  1. Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.

Usage notes

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-mente is always added to the feminine form of the adjective, e.g. fisicamente (note use of física rather than físico; *fisicomente would be incorrect)

-mente can be dropped from adverbs other than the last one in a sequence:

Ele escrevia rápida e freneticamente.
He was writing quickly and frenetically.

Derived terms

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Spanish

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Etymology

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From Old Spanish -mente/-miente/-mientre, from Latin mente.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈmente/ [ˈmẽn̪.t̪e] (additionally stressing the syllable of the underlying adjective)
  • Audio (Colombia):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ente
  • Syllabification: -men‧te

Suffix

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-mente (adverb-forming suffix)

  1. Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb.
    normal (normal) + ‎-mente → ‎normalmente (normally, usually)
    física (physical) + ‎-mente → ‎físicamente (physically)
    común (common) + ‎-mente → ‎comúnmente (commonly)
    loca (crazy) + ‎-mente → ‎locamente (crazily)

Usage notes

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  • Adverbs in -mente are formed from the feminine singular forms of adjectives. For example, nuevamente (newly) is formed from nueva (new), and comúnmente (commonly) is formed from común (common).
  • Not all words ending in <-mente> are adverbs formed with this suffix. For example, vehemente and demente are both adjectives. In fact, adverb vehementemente does exist.
  • If the adjective is written with an accent, then the adverb with -mente is written with an accent in the same place; hence comúnmente, rápidamente, and so on. Conversely, if the adjective is written without an accent, then the adverb with -mente is also written without an accent; hence lentamente, nuevamente, and so on.
  • In a string of adverbs connected with a conjunction, -mente may be omitted from all but the last. "Vaga, rápida y descuidadamente"

Derived terms

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Further reading

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