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What does the suffix -tan mean?

The suffix "-tan" doesn't have a consistent meaning on its own. It often appears in words that are derived from other languages, where it can have different meanings depending on the original word.

Here are some examples:

From Latin:

* -tan in words like "captain" and "lieutenant" comes from the Latin "tenere" which means "to hold". This suffix indicates a person who holds a specific position of authority.

* -tan in words like "infantry" and "infanta" comes from the Latin "infans" which means "child". This suffix indicates a person or thing associated with childhood or youth.

From other languages:

* -tan in words like "arctan" (a trigonometric function) comes from the Greek "tango" which means "I touch". This suffix indicates a specific type of mathematical function.

* -tan in words like "butan" (a hydrocarbon) comes from the Latin "butyrum" which means "butter". This suffix indicates a specific chemical compound.

Therefore, the meaning of "-tan" depends on the specific word it is attached to and its origin.

If you provide a specific word containing "-tan", I can help you understand its meaning more accurately.

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