-er

English

/ə/, /ɚ/

suffix
Definitions
  • (added to verbs) A person or thing that does an action indicated by the root verb; .
  • (added to verbs) A person or thing to which the root verb can satisfactorily be done.
  • (added to a noun denoting an occupation) A person whose occupation is (the noun).
  • (added to a number, measurement or noun denoting a quantified set) A name for a person or thing that is based on a number (with or without a noun).
  • (slang) .
  • (informal) One who enjoys.
  • (derogatory) Person who subscribes to a particular conspiracy theory or unorthodox belief.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English -er (agentive suffix, agent noun suffix) inherited from Old English -ere (agent suffix) inherited from Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz derived from Latin -ārius (of n-g, pertaining to) derived from Old French -or derived from Latin -tor, -(ā)tor derived from Proto-Indo-European *-tōr.

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*-tōr

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms