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-iwr. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-iwr, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-iwr in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-iwr you have here. The definition of the word
-iwr will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
-iwr, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Welsh
Etymology
From gŵr (“man”), but semantically influenced due to similarity in form to English -er and Latin -or.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-iwr m (plural -wyr)
- suffix indicating a person, especially an agent noun: -er, -or
- Synonyms: -edydd, -iedydd, -wr, -ydd
- pêl-droed (“football, soccer”) + -iwr → pêl-droediwr (“footballer, soccer player”)
- cyfraith (“law”) + -iwr → cyfreithiwr (“solictor, lawyer, attorney”)
- Rhufain (“Rome”) + -iwr → Rhufeiniwr (“Roman”)
Usage notes
- Despite being grammatically masculine, -iwr only refers solely to males when a coordinate female term is available, for example, Rhufeiniwr (“Roman (male)”) vs Rhufeines (“Roman (female)”). When no female term is in current use, the grammatically masculine term in -iwr is neutral as regards biological sex, for example cyfreithiwr (“solictor, lawyer, attorney (male or female)”). Use of the explicitly female suffix -wraig is old-fashioned outside of certain established terms.
Derived terms
Further reading
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-iwr”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies