-cule

The suffixes -cule and -uncle, with their adjectival forms -cular and -uncular are diminutives - they mean 'small', or 'very small'. They are both extended versions of the Latin -ulus (and its variant forms -ula, -ulum, -uli and -ulae), a diminutive suffix meaning 'very small'. In English, this general diminutive has taken several forms, such as '-icle', '-acle, and '-uscle'. Some words retain their Latin forms in English, including botanical words naming plants for which scientifically-minded gardeners use the Latin names of species, rather than the common English words.

This page contains lists of words that share this suffix, arranged in their different forms. There are some links to pages giving more detail, such as inoculate and peculiar, where the implications are interesting or seem to be of use to readers of AWE. There are also links to pages on words which may appear to belong to this group, but which don't in fact do so: bascule, crapulous, scapula, and the related scapular, sedulous. There is no evidence to suggest that peculiar contains the element -ulus, and the pattern of vowels strongly indicates that it doesn't.

Latin-style suffixes in -ula, -ulum, and -ulus

English noun	Latin root	Approx meaning	Notes
auricula	see auricle below	calculus	calx, 'small stone, pebble', + -ulus	1) in medicine, archaic name for 'a stone', e.g. gallstone or kidney stone - a 'renal calculus' 2) (Orig) any calculation Now one of several systems of calculation	Pebbles were used in counting and sums, as well as for games The Calculus now usu. = differential calculus . The verb 'to calculate' is cognate
calendula (pl. calendulae or calendulas	calendae 'calendar', + -ulus	The common marigold (botanical)	Seen as an indicator of weather, or time, so connected with 'calendar'
cannula	canna 'reed', 'cane'+ -ula'	medical: 'small hollow tube to pass liquids	reeds and canes were used as pipes, of all sorts; so canna came to mean 'tube', 'pipe'
convolvulus	con-volvĕre 'to roll up together', 'to wrap round'	Genus of plants including bindweed & garden plants like Morning Glory
copula	co[m] 'together' + ap-ĕre 'fasten, fit' + -ula	'a joiner', spec. 1) verb 'to be' in grammar]], 2) with various technical meanings in other subjects
cumulus (pl. cumuli)	cuma 'a heap' + -ulus	Mostly a huge rounded 'summer cloud' Also 2) (Medical) a thickening, or accumulation of cells, round the ovum in the ovarian follicle	Odd that 'large cloud mass' is derived <- Latin diminutive
curriculum See also curricul-	curr- 'to run' + -culum	orig. 'a running', 'course', 'race' now always 'a course of studies'
fibula (pl. fibulae or fibulas	contraction of figibula, from figĕre 'to fix' + -ula	'a little fastening', 'a brooch' The 'splint' bone: the thinner bone in human lower leg	Leg bone looks like tongue of a brooch or clasp
homunculus, homuncule	homo 'man' + -unculus	1) a very small person 2) Miniature human supposedly contained in sperm; grew in pregnancy in mother 3) Schematic representation of a human scaled in terms of e.g. importance of sense of touch	2 is a quite outmoded theory of conception.
modulus	modus 'measure' + -ulus	Various technical terms in mathematical sciences.	Often used with a defining term (e.g. Young's modulus) to label a constant
pabulum	pābulum from pāscere 'to feed'	'food', sometimes mere roughage or pap; fodder; fuel,	Now mostly 'food for thought' - of a limited, bland or insipid sort.
primula	primus 'first' + -ula	'the first little [flower]' [of spring]	The full Latin name is primula veris 'firstling of spring'
pustule	pus 'pus' + -ulus	A pimple, small lesion, on the skin Used figuratively in various biological descriptions	Also adj. pustular and (rarer) verb pustulate
querulous	querī 'to complain' + -ulus	petulant, whining, quarrelsome	cognate with English quarrel
reticulum	reticular, reticulated	rete 'net + -iculum'	various biological structures, including 2nd stomach of a cow, the 'tripe', resembling a net; often a membrane
speculum	specere 'to look [at]' + -ulum	Medical instrument to help look inside orifices	cf spectacle below
tumulus (pl. tumuli	[?] tumēre 'to swell' + -ulus	An ancient burial mound	Used in archaeology. Plural: Tumuli

'animula, vagula, blandula - Latin poem

animula, vagula, blandula is a little poem attributed to the Roman Emperor Hadrian, and much quoted or alluded to.

Latin text	English version
Animula vagula blandula	Pale little vagrant soul,	animus 'soul' + -ula; vagus 'wandering' + -ula; blandus 'pleasant' + -ula
hospes comesque corporis	my body's guest and friend,
quae nunc abibis	where are you living now,
in loca pallidula rigida nudula	in some pale, cold, bare place? -	pallidus 'pallid' + -ula; rigidus 'inflexible' + -ula; nudus 'bare' + -ula
nec ut soles dabis iocos	and you'll not make your usual jokes

English suffix in '-acle'

English noun	Eng. adj.	Eng. verb	Latin root	Approx meaning	Notes
binnacle	-	-	habitāre 'to dwell' + -culus	Housing for compass or light, etc, on board ship.	Habitaculum [Lat} 'a little lodging' -> Spanish bitácula which decayed phonetically to binnacle by 1750
miracle	miraculous	-	mīrārī 'to wonder', mīrus 'wonderful'	A supernatural event; something to be marvelled or wondered at	You may also want to see miracle play
obstacle	[cf obstruct]	-	ob-stāre 'to stand in the way of' + -culus	An 'obstruction', 'hindrance' - 'something standing in the way of'
oracle	oracular	-	orāre 'to orate, speak' + -cules	'The mouthpiece of the gods'	Originally, priest[ess] who transmits supposedly supernatural messages Later, also a place where the gods spoke, such as Delphi
pentacle	pentacular	-	penta- 'five' + -culum	Five-pointed star	Loosely, any magic symbol with 5 (sometimes 6) points
pinnacle	-	-	pinna 'feather' + -culus	The top, or peak (orig. of a building, tower etc)	"It is likely," says OED, "that the architectural sense of the Latin word arose in military slang by analogy with the plume on a helmet."
receptacle	-	-	receptāre 'to harbour or shelter [a fugitive, etc]' + -culum	1) 'vessel to hold liquids' 2) '[biological] organ to contain fluid' 3) Generally, something to hold an article, solid or liquid
spectacle (x2)	spectacular	spectate	spectāre frequentative form of specere 'to look at	(1) 'a public display [for entertainment]', 'a show' (2) 'something worth seeing', 'a sight' (3) 'a device for seeing better' (usu. a pair of spectacles, to correct sight of both eyes).
spiracle	spiracular	-	spīrā[re] 'to breathe' + -culus	Small opening, orig of volcanos & similar geological phenomena; later, for breathing, usually in lower animals Also, 'blow-hole' of whales
tabernacle	tabernacular		taberna 'tent'	1) temporary dwelling place, a tent; 2) a shrine, elaborate canopy, etc 3) a resting-place for e.g. the mast of a river-boat	First used for the tented shrine carried by the Jews out of Egypt, the 'dwelling' of 'the Highest'
tentacle	tentacular 'of nature of a tentacle' tentaculate 'with tentacles'	-	tentā[re] 'to test, feel' (or temptāre + -culus	An organ of feeling; the 'arm' of an octopus or squid

English suffix in '-icle'

Don't confuse the spelling -icle (which is what this group is about) with other words ending in -ical, like 'practical', 'comical', 'cynical', 'mystical' and 'tactical'. These are formed with the suffix -al (used to make adjectives) added to a root ending in -ic.

English noun	Eng. adj.	Eng. verb	Latin root	Approx meaning	Notes
majuscule (an upper case letter)	majuscule	'large'; 'written in block capitals'	-	maius/major 'larger' + -cule	(n. a capital letter adj. large; capital [letter]
minuscule (style of handwriting)	minuscule	'very small'	-	minus 'smaller' + -cule	(n. style of manuscript handwriting adj. very small
molecule (a unit in chemistry)	molecular		'a mole' in the sense of 'a mass', + -cule	see molecule|-

English noun	Eng. adj.	Eng. verb	Latin root	Approx meaning	Notes
article			artus. 'a joint', + -culus	1) part of something written 2) A 'piece' of non-fiction written for a periodical publication 3) A word-class in grammar 4) A matter, subject or point under discussion 5) An element or fundamental part of a belief 6) A thing; a material item in a list]]	See the separate page at article for its fuller meanings See also articulate (below) for a different development in meanings
auricle; auricula (pl. auriculae or auriculas)	auricular		auris 'ear' + -culus	1) name of a species of primula 2) more often now in form auricle 'external ear of an animal' 3) Species of intertidal mollusc 4) Various technical terms in biology	The flower's leaves are said to resemble a boar's ear, hence English name 'Boar's-ear'
canticle	-	-	canticum 'a song' + -iculus	'a little song', partic. 'a hymn with words from the Bible or elsewhere in early Church history'	From verb canere, cantare
clavicle	clavicular	-	clavis + -iculus	'collar-bone' (anatomy)	the bone is like ancient keys, supposedly
curricle	-	-	currere 'to run' -iculus	'2-wheeled carriage'	usually drawn by 2 horses abreast.
cuticle	cuticular (rare)	-	cutis 'skin' + -culus	now almost always the dead skin at the bas of nails formerly often similar structures in biology
fascicle	-	-	fascis 'a bundle' + -iculus	'a small bundle', (1) in various biological uses (2) a 'signature' or section of a book published separately before all signatures are bound together & published	The fasces were a bundle of rods + an axe, carried as badge of authority. Fascicle is cognate with fascist.
follicle	follicular	-	-iculus	'little bag'; a small gland, usually arranged spherically round a cavity, containing an organ, commonly a hair.
orbicle, orbicule	orbicular	-	orbis 'a globe' + -iculus	a microscopically small sphere, in botany and geology
pannicle ("now rare" OED)	-	-	pannus 'a cloth' + -iculus	a membrane
particle	particulate see also particular below	-	parti- 'part' + -icules	a minute fragment of matter, usu. now 'sub-atomic'; an indeclinable small item of vocabulary (see particle in grammar)
pedicle/pedicule/pedicel	pediculate	-	ped- 'foot' + -iculus	'a stalk', or 'narrow joint'
radicle	-	-	radix 'root' + -culus	a 'rootlet'
reticle	-	-	rete 'net + -icle	= reticule (1); a device for studying light
testicle	testicular	-	testis 'witness' + -iculus	male reproductive organ, the 'witness' to a man's fertility
ventricle	ventricular	-	venter 'belly' + -culus	one of the chambers of the heart
vesicle	vesicular	-	vesica 'bladder', 'blister' + -ulus	small bladder-like unit in anatomy; a cell'; a small cyst

English suffix in '-ulate', '-ule' and '-ulous'

English noun	Eng. adj.	Eng. verb	Latin root	Approx meaning	Notes
acidulate	acidulous	acidulation	acidus 'sour, acid' +-ulus	slightly acid, sour; fig. 'sharp [comments, face, mood etc]' vb.: to make sour; to 'turn' e.g. milk
animalcule	-	-	animal 'animal' + -culus	A microscopic organism, a species only visible under a microscope	Now obsolete, this word was adapted by early microscopists from classical Latin 'a small animal', such as an insect
-	bibulous	-	bibere 'to drink' + -ulus	'fond of [alcoholic] drink'; 'characterized by drinking/drunkenness'	Nowadays almost always a disapproving word; it could formerly be used for 'absorbent' (of towels and so on).
capsule	-	(encapsulate)	capsa, 'box', 'case' + -ulus	A small container, esp. in common use 'a dissolving container of a dose of medicine'	Several technical meanings in biological sciences.
circle	circular	circulate	circus 'round', 'ring' + -ulusbrGreek κίρκος	the mathematical figure; loose equivalents to it; fig. group of acquaintances sharing a common interest
gesticulation	gesticular	gesticulate	gestus 'action' + -culus	making a gesture', moving hands etc to emphasize speech
globule	globular	-	globus 'globe' + -ulus	A drop; a small round particle usu. liquid
granule	granular	granulate	granum 'a grain', 'a seed' + -ulus	a small particle, as in a unit of granulated sugar
-	-	inoculate	in- 'into' + oculus ('an eye', from an Indo-European root + -ulus)	See separate page at Inoculate
-	Meticulous	-	metus 'fear' + -culosus	'careful', 'precise'	See separate page at Meticulous
nodule	nodular	-	nodus 'node', 'knot', 'joint', 'lump'	Medical, 'a lump', 'a hard growth'; mineralogy, 'a small rounded unit of a [solid] substance'
peculation	peculant, peculative (both quite rare)	peculate	See foot not to Peculiar (meaning)
pustule	pustular	pustulate (rare)	pus 'pus' + -ulus	A pimple, small lesion, on the skin Used figuratively in various biological descriptions
reticule	reticular, reticulated	-	rete 'net + -icule	(1) grid of fine lines in an optical sight; 'crosshairs' (2) a handbag made of netting
ridicule	ridiculous	(to) ridicule	rīdēre 'to laugh' + -culus	mockery, derision, amusement

English suffix in '-uncle'/'-uncular'

English noun	Eng. adj.	Eng. verb	Latin root	Approx meaning	Notes
uncle	avuncular	-	avus 'grandfather' + -unculus	the sibling of a parent, in relationship to the child
carbuncle	carbuncular	-	carbo[n]- '[piece of] charcoal', 'carbon' +-culus	1) gemstone of [fiery] red colour (specifically, to modern jewellers, a cabochon-cut garnet 2) med. inflammatory red lesion or pustule; 'a boil' 3) 'an excrescence', something unpleasant that obtrudes on the sight.
peduncle	pedunculate, peduncular	-	ped- 'foot' + -unculus	See pedicle/pedicule/pedicel above.
funiculus	funicular	-	funis 'a rope' + -culus 'string'	funiculus one of 3 separate 'strings' in spinal cord; some technical uses in Biology funicular 'operated by a rope'	a funicular railway is one drawn up and down a slope by a cable. Song, Funiculì, funiculà, written in 1880 by Denza for opening one in Naples.

English ending in -uscle, -u[scu]lus or -u[scu]lar

English noun	adjective	verb	Latin root	Approx meaning	Notes
corpuscle	corpuscular	-	corpus 'body' + -culus	'a small body', partic, a particle in the blood
crepuscule	crepuscular	-	creper 'dusky', 'dark' + -usculus	'of twilight', 'dusky'	French still uses la crepuscule for twilight, though is is rare in Present-day English
	glandular	-	gland- 'gland' + -ulus	To do with glands; glandular fever = Infectious mononucleosis	'glandule' was common in 17th c. for gland. Now obsolete.
macula	macular, immaculate	to maculate (rare) to 'spot', 'stain', 'defile'	macula, 'a spot in the retina'	1) a spot in the eye or on the skin; any thing like a spot, such as 2) a sunspot	macular damage is a major cause of blindness in the old
muscle	muscular	'to muscle [in]', to coerce, to threaten (with violence)	mus 'mouse' + -culus	one of the organs of movement	In many Indo-European languages, the movement of biceps is compared to a mouse running under the skin
	ocular	inoculate	oculus Latin 'eye'	'to do with the eye' or optics	probably cognate with 'eye', both from Indo-European oq- 'to see'
(osculum) rare & technical	oscular	osculate	os 'mouth' + -culus	'to do with the mouth' - partic. 'kissing' archaic geometrical 'touching a plane or curve' biology: certain small openings in bodies	mostly jocular nowadays
[See particle above]	particular See also Particular - particulate	particularize
-	vascular	-	vas 'hollow dish' + -culus	(anatomy) a hollow organ, a tube

speculate