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-wr. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-wr, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-wr in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-wr you have here. The definition of the word
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-wr, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Welsh
Alternative forms
Etymology
From gŵr (“man”), but semantically influenced due to similarity in form to English -er and Latin -or.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-wr m (plural -wyr)
- suffix indicating a person, especially an agent noun: -er, -or
- Synonyms: -edydd, -iedydd, -iwr, -ydd
- tafarn (“pub”) + -wr → tafarnwr (“landlord”)
- trydan (“electricity”) + -wr → trydanwr (“electrician”)
- Sbaen (“Spain”) + -wr → Sbaenwr (“Spaniard”)
- darlledu (“broadcast”) + -wr → darlledwr (“broadcaster”)
- suffix indicating an instrument or machine: -er, -or
- Synonyms: -adur, -edydd, -iadur, -iedydd, -ydd
- copïo (“to copy”) + -wr → copïwr (“copier”)
- sychu (“to dry”) + -wr → sychwr (“drier”)
Usage notes
- Despite being grammatically masculine, -wr only refers solely to males when a coordinate female term is available, for example, Sbaenwr (“Spaniard (male)”) vs Sbaenes (“Spaniard (female)”). When no female term is in current use, the grammatically masculine term in -wr is neutral as regards biological sex, for example trydanwr (“electrician (male or female)”). Use of the explicitly female suffix -wraig is old-fashioned outside of certain established terms.
- -wr is used on occasion to indicate an instrument or machine but other suffixes such as -ydd are more common.
Derived terms
Further reading
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-wr”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies