-ster
a suffix used in forming nouns, often derogatory, referring especially to occupation, habit, or -ssociation:
gamester; songster; trickster.
-ster
suffix
indicating a person who is engaged in a certain activity prankster, songster compare -stress
indicating a person -ssociated with or being something specified mobster, youngster
word origin
old english -estre
-ster
o.e. -istre, from p.gmc. –istrijon, feminine agent suffix used as the equivalent of masculine -ere. also used in m.e. 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 names like webster, baxter, brewster, etc. (though spinster clearly represents a female ending). in modern eng., the suffix has been productive in forming derivative nouns (gamester, punster, etc.).
-ster
suffix
used to form nouns a person involved with, doing, or described by what is indicated: clubster/ gridster/ mobster/ oldster
[1000+; this old english suffix, always common, has lately become very popular; for instance, forms like the newtster, ”newt gingrich,” are found]
Read Also:
- -stichous
botany, zoology a combining form meaning “having rows” of the kind or number specified by the initial element: distichous. -stichous combining form having a certain number of rows distichous word origin from late latin -stichus, from greek -stikhos, from stikhos line, row; see stich
- -stome
a combining form meaning “organism having a mouth or mouthlike organ” (cyclostome), “mouthlike organ” (cytostome), as specified by the initial element. compare -stomous, -stomy. -stome combining form indicating a mouth or opening resembling a mouth peristome word origin from greek stoma mouth, and stomion little mouth
- -stomous
a combining form meaning “having a mouth” of the kind or number specified by the initial element: monostomous. -stomous combining form having a specified type of mouth monostomous
- -stomy
a combining form used in the names of surgical operations that involve the establishment of an artificial opening into or between the part or parts specified by the initial element: gastrostomy. -stomy combining form indicating a surgical operation performed to make an artificial opening into or for a specified part cytostomy word origin from greek […]
- -stress
a feminine equivalent of -ster: seamstress; songstress. -stress suffix indicating a woman who performs or is engaged in a certain activity songstress, seamstress compare -ster (sense 1) word origin from -st(e)r + -ess