-our
English edit
Suffix edit
-our
Middle English edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Old French -eor, from Latin -ātor; reinforced by Old French -or and its source, Latin -or, -ōrem.
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
Suffix edit
-our
- Forms agent nouns from other nouns or verbs, usually of Romance origin.
- (non-productive) Reflects a variety of other Old French deverbal formations.
Usage notes edit
- This suffix is sometimes confused with -er, especially in Late Middle English. For forms stemming from that confusion, see that entry.
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
References edit
- “-ǒur, suf.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Etymology 2 edit
Suffix edit
-our
- Alternative form of -ure
Old French edit
Suffix edit
-our
- (often late Anglo-Norman) Alternative form of -or (both etymologies)