The suffix -ior denotes which meaning?

• A. Pertaining to
• B. Abnormal condition
• C. Process
• D. Condition of

Answer: (A)

Think about how these terms describe where or how something is related to a body part. The ending -ior turns a root into an adjective that means relating to or pertaining to a part or direction. You can see this in anterior and posterior, which describe the front and back relative to something. So the suffix -ior conveys the meaning “pertaining to.” It’s not used to signal an abnormal condition (that’s typically -osis or -pathy), nor a process (-ation or -ing), nor a generic “condition of” sense (which would come from different suffixes).