0
MUSCOVITE Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

"unusual" suffixes?

Hi,

(1) LAWYER
This noun is a derivative of "law", isn't it?

Could you please comment on this (somewhat unusual?) suffix '-YER'?

Could you possibly give me more examples of this kind (= nouns created with the use of '-yer')?
I can think of only "Tom Sawyer" ... not sure if this is "suitable" here, though

(2) BIASED/BIASSED
Looks like biassed' is used very rarely (if ever) nowadays....
Anyway, what is the "reason" behide using the suffix -sed (not -ed) with the root "bias"?
Your comments would be appreciated

Mus-te
  

Top answer

1-- Yes, sawyer is also an occupation. From the Online Etymological Dictionary: -yer : agent noun suffix, variant of -ier used after a vowel or -w-. 2-- Because a reader could easily mispronounce biased as [ 'bai eist ]

— Mister Micawber

  • 1-- Yes, sawyer is also an occupation.
  • From the Online Etymological Dictionary: -yer : agent noun suffix, variant of -ier used after a vowel or -w-.
  • 2-- Because a reader could easily mispronounce biased as [ 'bai eist ]
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
1-- Yes, sawyer is also an occupation. From the Online Etymological Dictionary: -yer : agent noun suffix, variant of -ier used after a vowel or -w-.

2-- Because a reader could easily mispronounce biased as ['bai eist]
0

Related Questions