| -er 1 suff. 1. a. One that performs a specified action: swimmer. b. One that undergoes or is capable of undergoing a specified action: broiler. c. One that has: ten-pounder. d. One associated or involved with: banker. 2. a. Native or resident of: New Yorker. b. One that is: foreigner. [Middle English, partly from Old English -ere (from Germanic *-  rjaz, from Latin -rius, -ary), partly from Anglo-French -er (from Old French -ier, from Latin -rius) and partly from Old French -ere, -eor; see -or1.] |
| -er 2 suff. Used to form the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs: darker; faster. [Middle English, from Old English -re, -ra.] |
-er1
suffix forming nouns
1. a person or thing that performs a specified action reader decanter lighter
2. a person engaged in a profession, occupation, etc. writer baker bootlegger
3. a native or inhabitant of islander Londoner villager
4. a person or thing having a certain characteristic newcomer double-decker fiver
[Old English -ere; related to German -er, Latin -ārius]
-er2
suffix
forming the comparative degree of adjectives (deeper, freer, sunnier, etc.) and adverbs (faster, slower, etc.)
[Old English -rd, -re (adj), -or (adv)]
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