-ulesuffix

Among words now current with this ending a certain number correspond to actual Latin forms, as capsule, cellule, ferule, macule, nodule, pustule, spherule, valvule; others are of modern formation, as anguillule. Only a few of these were in use before the 17th century. Some examples, as angule, circule, scrupule, failed to establish themselves against the earlier forms of French origin in -le; others, as formule, have given way to the purely Latin form. In some cases both forms exist in scientific use, as ligule and ligula, macule and macula, valvule and valvula; in some the Latin form is commonly or exclusively employed, as lingula, tabula.