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-some¹

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.]

-some²

suff.

A group of a specified number of members: threesome.

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

-some³

suff.

1. Body: centrosome.

2. Chromosome: monosome.

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

some

(sŭm)

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.]

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.

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