[1745–55; ‹ L alvīnus, equiv. to alv(us) belly + -īnus-ine1]This word is first recorded in the period 1745–55. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: development, ellipse, generalize, input, umbilical cord-ine is a suffix of adjectives of Greek or Latin origin, meaning “of or pertaining to,”“of the nature of,” “made of,” “like”. Other words that use the affix -ine include: asinine, crystalline, equine, marine