pene-, prefix
(piːniː)
repr. L. pæne ‘nearly, almost, all but’, before a vowel pæn-, pen-, in a few words of rare occurrence or nonce-words, as ˌpene-feˈlonious, ˌpene-ˈinfinite (also peninfinite), ˌpene-omˈnipotent adjs.; in some cases formed after peninsula, as † ˌpene-ˈisle = peninsula: see penile n.; † ˌpene-ˈlake, a piece of water almost surrounded by land (obs.); peneˈseismic a. [ad. F. pénéséismique (De Montessus de Ballore La Geogr. Séismologique (ed. 2, 1906) 11)] (see quot.).
| 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 82 ‘Lots’, said the *pene-felonious traveller—‘good place to camp’. |
| 1647 Ward Simp. Cobler 47 These *pene-infinite [later edd. pen-infinite] insolencies, which are the most finite Infinites of misery to men. |
| 1668 Wilkins Real Char. 54 *Pene-lake, Haven, Harbour, Port, Key. |
| 1894 Blackw. Mag. June 822 That *peneomnipotent thing, public opinion. |
| 1921 C. Davison Man. Seismol. x. 161 Peneseismic countries, in which earthquakes are severe, but fall short of destructive power. |