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

buyer

Someone who purchases something.

The buyer pays the seller and takes home the bicycle.

Etymology

The inherited verb names purchasing. The agent ending identifies the person making the purchase, whether for personal use or on behalf of an organization.

More examples

  • Several potential buyers toured the house.
  • The store's buyer selects clothing for the coming season.
  • Each buyer received a receipt for the purchase.

Forms

buyer · buyers

Similar words

customer
Someone dealing with a business, who may not yet have made a purchase.