| 释义 |
▪ I. -eer, suffix1
is an anglicized form of the Fr. suffix -ier (repr. normally L. -iārius, and in many words replacing -air:—L. -ārius; see -ary1), used to form ns. denoting persons, as in canonnier cannoneer, muletier muleteer; the usual sense is ‘one who is concerned with’, or ‘one who deals in’. (Where the n. from which the F. word was formed never became familiar in Eng. use, the original spelling -ier is retained, as in bombardier, grenadier). In imitation of these words (perh. in some instances rather in imitation of Sp. ns. in -ero, of similar origin) the suffix is added to Eng. ns. to form designations of persons, as auctioneer, charioteer, mountaineer (earlier -er). In many of the words so formed there is a more or less contemptuous implication, as in crotcheteer, garreteer, pamphleteer, pulpiteer, sonneteer.
The spelling -eer, replacing the older -ier, became frequent in new words in the early 17th century. Mountaineer and waistcoateer (a prostitute) afford early instances, and are also exceptional examples, of the use of this suffix. A few formations denote inanimate objects, as gazetteer (1704), muffineer (1806–7).
In the latter part of the 17th century gerundial and (to a less extent) participial formations on agent-nouns in -eer appeared, and increased in the course of the following century, as auctioneering (1733), buccaneering (1703), electioneering (1774), engineering (1720), parliamenteering (1711), privateering (1664), volunteering (1691). These, being formed directly on the ns. in -eer, do not necessarily imply the existence of a corresponding infinitive or finite verbal form, though an early example actually appears in mutineered (1682). Some of these formations, e.g. parliamenteering, were in commoner use than the original n.; occasionally, as in revolutioneering, no n. exists, -eering itself being used as a suffix.
▪ II. -eer, suffix2
representing Du. -eren, ad. F. infinitive ending -er; as in domineer (Shakespeare), ad. Du. † domineren, ad. F. dominer to dominate; commandeer (1881), ad. Cape Du. commanderen, ad. F. commander to command. |