DictionaryRoot: -arius
Latin

-arius

connected with; a person concerned with

Forms

  • -arius
  • -ary — The ending shortened in French and English.
  • -aire — One French development of the ending.

Origin

A Latin ending for relationships, occupations, and associated things.

Note

Its descendants can name a person, a place, or a quality; the surrounding word determines the contribution.

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A small, wiry-coated terrier eagerly digging at the entrance of an animal burrow, with its recognizable compact body fully visible.
noun

terrier

TAIR-ee-er/ˈteriər/

A dog of a typically small, energetic breed originally bred to hunt vermin.

Etymology

The pieces convey “of earth”: a terrier was literally an “earth dog.” The name reflects its work pursuing animals into burrows and digging or scratching to reach them.

Full entry

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