Leaf Spelling Dictionary

coriaceus is the Latin, not the English

vowel-digraphThe -eous of coriaceous is three letters and one weak syllable. Written by ear, one of the three tends to go missing.

heard ascoriaceus
spelledcoriaceous
saidko-ree-AY-shus

English writes coriaceous, with an o.

In Latin the adjective genuinely is coriaceus. English adds the o when it takes these words in, because -ous is the English adjective ending and -us is not: Latin famosus became famous, Latin nervosus became nervous. Coriaceous is the same adjustment applied to the same kind of word.

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