-i-

Meaning

Interfix

A vowel inserted interconsonantally between morphemes of Latinate origin in order to ease pronunciation (an anaptyxis, a linking vowel).

Suffix

1. (morpheme) A spelling variant of a word-final -y vowel when followed by a suffix that does not begin with an i, for example -ied, -ier, -iest.
2. (morpheme) In compound words, a spelling variant of a final or suffixed -y vowel in the first word.

Etymology

From Latin -i-.