-er Hear it!

-er definition

-er (ər)

  1. Etymology: ME -er(e) < OE -ere < WGmc *-arj, *-ārj < or akin to, and reinforced by, L -arius, -arium, agentive suffixes (Anglo-Fr -er, -ier), L -ar (OFr -er), L -atur (OFr -ëure), L -atorium (OFr -ëor, Fr -oir), L -ator (OFr -ëor)

    1. a person having to do with, esp. as an occupation or profession: added to nouns hatter, geographer
    2. a person native to or living in: added to place names and nouns New Yorker, cottager
    3. a thing or action connected with: added to nouns, noun compounds, and noun phrases
    4. a person or thing that ____s: added to verbs roller

  2. Etymology: ME -re, -er < OE -ra

    forming the comparative degree of many adjectives and adverbs later, greater

  3. Etymology: ME < Anglo-Fr inf. suffix

    the action of ____ing: added to verb bases in legal language demurrer, repleader

  4. Etymology: ME -ren, -rien < OE -rian, freq. suffix

    repeatedly: added to verbs and verb bases flicker, patter

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.