-ster

-ster
-ster O.E. -istre, from P.Gmc. *-istrijon, feminine agent suffix used as the equivalent of masculine -ere. Also used in Middle English to form nouns of action (meaning "a person who ...") without regard for gender. The genderless agent noun use apparently was a broader application of the original feminine suffix, beginning in the north of England, but linguists disagree over whether this indicates female domination of weaving and baking trades, as represented in surnames like Webster, Baxter, Brewster, etc. (though SPINSTER (Cf. spinster) clearly represents a female ending). In Modern English, the suffix has been productive in forming derivative nouns (gamester, punster, etc.).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • ster — ster; ster·co·bi·lin; ster·co·bi·lin·o·gen; ster·co·ra·ceous; ster·co·ral; ster·co·ra·nism; ster·co·ra·nist; ster·co·ra·rii·dae; ster·co·rary; ster·co·ra·tion; ster·co·ric·o·lous; ster·co·rite; ster·cov·o·rous; ster·cu·lia; ster·cu·li·a·ce·ae;… …   English syllables

  • ster — I {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mnż I, D. u, Mc. sterze {{/stl 8}}{{stl 7}} element konstrukcyjny statku wodnego lub powietrznego, służący do nadawania mu pożądanego kierunku : {{/stl 7}}{{stl 10}}Ster statku, okrętu. Ster samolotu, szybowca. {{/stl… …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • ster — STER, steri, s.m. Unitate de măsură pentru volume egală cu un metru cub, întrebuinţată la măsurarea lemnelor aşezate în stive. – Din fr. stère. Trimis de claudia, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  ster s. m., pl. steri; simb. st Trimis de siveco, 10.08 …   Dicționar Român

  • ster-4 —     ster 4     English meaning: line, stripe, ray     Deutsche Übersetzung: ‘streifen, Strich, Strähne, Strahl”; “about etwas hinwegstreifen, streichen”     Note: also sterǝ : strē , strei , streu ; with g, b, dh (or t ) extended; identical with… …   Proto-Indo-European etymological dictionary

  • ster- Ⅰ — *ster germ., Verb: nhd. ausbreiten; ne. spread (Verb); Etymologie: idg. *ster (5), *sterə , *strē , *sterh₃ , Verb, breiten, streuen, Pokorny 1029; Literatur …   Germanisches Wörterbuch

  • ster- Ⅱ — *ster germ.?, Verb: nhd. steif sein ( Verb); ne. be (Verb) stiff; Etymologie: idg. *ster (1), *ter (7), *sterə , *terə , *strē , *trē , *s …   Germanisches Wörterbuch

  • ster-6 —     ster 6     English meaning: sterile     Deutsche Übersetzung: “unfruchtbar”     Note: old Sonderanwendung from ster “ stiff “     Material: O.Ind. starī f. “unfruchtbare cow”; Arm. sterj “unfruchtbar, from animals”, also sterd (*ster dh o ,… …   Proto-Indo-European etymological dictionary

  • -ster — [OE. & AS. estre, istre.] A suffix denoting the agent (originally a woman), especially a person who does something with skill or as an occupation; as in spinster (originally, a woman who spins), songster, baxter (= bakester), youngster. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sterþja- — *sterþja , *sterþjaz germ., Adjektiv: Verweis: s. *sterdja s. sterdja ; …   Germanisches Wörterbuch

  • Ster — Ster, der; s, Plural e und s <griechisch> (ein Raummaß für Holz); 3 Ster …   Die deutsche Rechtschreibung

  • ster-3 —     ster 3     English meaning: to rob, steal     Deutsche Übersetzung: “rauben, stehlen”     Material: Gk. στερέω (Att. στερίσκω only present) “rob”, στέρομαι “bin stolen; looted, miss”; M.Ir. serb “ theft “ (*ster u̯ü); with l instead of r… …   Proto-Indo-European etymological dictionary

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