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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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Welsh
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