suppletion

[ suh-plee-shuh n ]
/ səˈpli ʃən /

noun Grammar.

the use in inflection or derivation of an allomorph that is not related in form to the primary allomorph of a morpheme, as the use of better as the comparative of good.

Origin of suppletion

1275–1325; Middle English: supplementation, supplement < Medieval Latin supplētiōn- (stem of supplētiō) a filling up, equivalent to supplēt(us), past participle of supplēre to make complete, ( sup- sup- + plē-, stem of plēre to fill (see full1) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Words nearby suppletion

supplementary, supplementary angle, supplementary angles, supplementary story, supplementation, suppletion, suppletive, suppletory, supplex, suppliance, suppliancy

British Dictionary definitions for suppletion

suppletion
/ (səˈpliːʃən) /

noun

the use of an unrelated word to complete the otherwise defective paradigm of a given word, as for example the use of went for the past tense of go

Derived forms of suppletion

suppletive, noun, adjective

Word Origin for suppletion

C14: from Medieval Latin supplētiō a completing, from Latin supplēre to supply 1