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-some 1
Share:
suff.
Characterized by a specified quality, condition, or action: bothersome.

[Middle English -som, from Old English -sum, -like; see sem-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
-some 2
Share:
suff.
A group of a specified number of members: threesome.

[Middle English -sum, from Old English sum, some; see SOME.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
-some 3
Share:
suff.
1. Body: centrosome.
2. Chromosome: monosome.

[From Greek sōma, body; see teuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
some (sŭm)
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adj.
1. Being an unspecified number or quantity: Some people came into the room. Would you like some sugar?
2. Being a portion or an unspecified number or quantity of a whole or group: He likes some modern sculpture but not all.
3. Being a considerable number or quantity: She has been directing films for some years now.
4. Unknown or unspecified by name: Some man called.
5. Logic Being part and perhaps all of a class.
6. Informal Remarkable: She is some skier.
pron.
1. An indefinite or unspecified number or portion: We took some of the books to the auction. See Usage Note at every.
2. An indefinite additional quantity: did the assigned work and then some.
adv.
1. Approximately; about: Some 40 people attended the rally.
2. Informal Somewhat: some tired.

[Middle English, from Old English sum, a certain one; see sem-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.