rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: -er
English

-er

a person or thing that does something

Forms

  • -er
  • -r — Used after some bases ending in e.

Origin

Old English -ere, generally traced through Germanic to Latin -arius.

Note

It can name a tool as readily as a person. The comparison ending in taller has a different history.

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noun

unbeliever

un-bi-LEE-ver/ˌʌnbɪˈliːvər/

A person who does not accept a religious faith or doctrine.

The congregation welcomes the unbeliever without asking her to profess faith.

Etymology
unOld Englishnot
+believEnglishhave faith; accept as true
+erEnglisha person or thing that does something

A believer is someone who accepts something as true; un- negates that acceptance. The word is recorded especially for someone who rejects a particular religion, matching its use relative to a specified faith or claim.

In context

APC Bible College33:30
now verse 15 if the unbeliever departs okay let them depart now if the husband is saying that you know unbelieving husband or unbelieving wife they're saying i cannot live with this person who's a believer
1&2 Corinthians | Lecture 08 : BC304-1&2Cor-20210827

More examples

  • As an unbeliever, he does not accept the church's teachings.
  • The debate brings believers and unbelievers together to discuss religion.
  • She remains an unbeliever despite her family's deep religious faith.

Forms

unbeliever · unbelievers

unbelief noun — Lack of acceptance of religious faith.

Similar words

atheist
Specifically lacks belief in gods, not merely a particular doctrine.
agnostic
Emphasizes uncertainty about God's existence rather than rejection of faith.