suffix forming nouns from nouns, adjectives, and many verbs, denoting: 1 a person, animal, or thing that performs a specified action or activity (cobbler; lover; executioner; poker; computer; eye-opener). 2 a person or thing that has a specified attribute or form (foreigner; four-wheeler; second-rater). 3 a person concerned with a specified thing or subject (hatter; geographer). 4 a person belonging to a specified place or group (villager; New Zealander; sixth-former).
[ orig. 'one who has to do with': OE -ere f. Gmc ]