n. The French definite article masculine (including the old neuter), much used in Middle English in names of French type, as Johan le Long, William le Bon, etc. (many of which survive in modern English), as well as in modern French names. It occurs contracted and unrecognized in lingot and other words.n. See li.n. A suffix or termination of very diverse origin, and now usually without obvious significance, occurring in adjectives or nouns of native English origin, as in fickle, mickle, brickle, brittle, etc., cockle, prickle, knuckle, etc., shackle, etc., or of other origin, as in battle, battle, bottle, buckle, mettle, etc. See the etymology of such words.n. A suffix of frequentative, or originally frequentative, verbs, as babble, gabble, cackle, crackle, humble, mumble, ramble, scramble, scribble, etc.