Questions tagged [agent-nouns]

An *agent noun* is a noun which identifies the performer of an action, typically derived from the verb for that action. For example, a *writer* is one who *writes*; *writer* is the agent noun.

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"The water filled the container" [duplicate]

I have a question regarding terminology. In English, we can say "I filled the container with water", in which the subject is an agent. But you may also say "The water filled the ...
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Are there characters that performs actions in this sentence? [closed]

There is a need for an analysis of library use to provide a reliable base for the projection of needed resources. I think there, use and base are subjects, but what are the characters that perform ...
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What is the agent noun for verbs ending in -y? [closed]

What is the correct way of spelling it, and what would the rule be for -y verbs like retry. Is it retryer or retrier? That is, on -y verbs, is the y kept or substituted by i?
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What is the agent noun of the verb mirror?

A google search made me realize that the the agent noun of mirror doesn't exist. What would such a word be if it did? My best guess would be mirroror following the word mirroring and using the agent ...
2 votes
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When to use "-er" vs "-or" as a suffix in verbs - a comprehensive example (a developer's perspective)!

It's been many times when it comes to decide whether to use "-or" or "-er" as an agent noun suffix to a verb. My native (mother language) is Greek, and I'll try to provide you a way to think before ...
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Is someone who retires from their job a retirer or retiree?

Someone told me he was attending a leaving party for "retirees". Being a pedant, I said Aren't they retirers, since they are doing the verb [retiring]? My interlocutor said that since the people ...
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Proper Agent Noun of "shoot" - Something that Shoots

I'm a huge nerd, by my own admission, and in a lot of anime they use the English loanword "shooter" in the original Japanese dub to signify something that shoots, as opposed to how we use it standard ...
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What do you call someone being baptised/christened?

The ritual of baptism or christening is common throughout Christian societies, and similar rituals are common in other societies.1 A typical baptistening (I just made that up—easier to write than ...
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1 answer
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Which category of nouns do 'driver', 'cleaner', 'writer', 'processor' belong to?

What category of nouns describes this group? Verb -> Noun To drive -> driver To compute -> computer To paint -> painter To clean -> cleaner To process -> processor To calculate -> calculator To ...
3 votes
2 answers
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Is the "-ee" suffix changing in meaning?

Anecdotally, it seems that in recent years, the "-ee" ending for the subject of an action has become diluted and often stands for the agent of the action, rather than its object. Examples: ...
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1 answer
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"Reminiscent Hawaii" technical meaning

1 "Reminiscent Hawaii" - caption on photo 2 "The Na Pali Coast is a reminiscent place!" - verbal Would these technically mean the place inspires reminiscing? (of free agents) Or would it ...
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1 answer
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another word for consultant

I'm struggling with a title for this role. It's for a person who gives advice and guidance, but also coordinates getting things done and keeps the client accountable for their actions. I'm trying to ...
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What's the rule for transforming a verb into a noun if it ends in "ee"?

Usually a noun can be made from a verb by adding an -er as a suffix (to paint -> painter, to eat -> eater). What is the rule for verbs that already end with the letter "e", such as "see", "flee", "...
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18 votes
7 answers
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What is someone called who makes and sells sandwiches?

I am translating a text from Persian to English. I need to use an equivalent for "ساندویچی" (pronounced 'Sandwichi')(In Persian, a person who makes and sells sandwiches. It also applies to the place, ...
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1 answer
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Is there a named category for nouns that are not 'agent nouns'?

Please note that this question is not about the 'opposite' of an agent noun, or the 'passive noun' corresponding to an agent noun. My question is: if we could split the set of all nouns into two ...
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Term for someone who lost something [duplicate]

Is there any specific term for someone who has lost something? The person who finds something can be called a finder but what about the person who has lost something? What should the appropriate term ...
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Resident advisor: an advisor who resides or someone who advises residents?

Google assures me that there's a position at various postsecondary institutions called "resident assistant", "resident advisor", or "resident adviser". This is a student who lives in a dormitory and ...
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What's a single word to name a person/entity that determines?

I am looking for a single word (noun) describing a person or any other entity that determines something. For example: John determines next year goals for his employees. John is a ... of employee ...
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"Created" is to "creator", and "updated" to "editor", as "deleted" is to what agent noun?

I'm modeling a database and I have these three fields (among others): created_by, updated_by, and deleted_by. I'm using author as an alias for "created_by", and editor as an alias for "updated_by". ...
7 votes
2 answers
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Difference between the use of "supplier", "vendor", "provider"

Which is the difference between the use of supplier, vendor, provider? The way I see it, they are complete synonyms. Am I right?
1 vote
4 answers
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What word would best be used to describe an entity that "cancels" something?

I am writing some code for an application that initiates an asynchronous action and returns an object that can be used to cancel the action before completion. However, I am having difficulty naming ...
8 votes
5 answers
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Is there a word for something that gets "acted upon"?

For instance, say I have two individuals and one is active, the other passive. I know I can call the active person the "actor"—he "acts upon" the passive person. But what do I call the "acted upon"? ...
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A word for "one who tames wild animals"

I want to know a single word that conveys this meaning "one who tames wild animals".
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Forming occupational nouns: Why do you say "butcher" and not "butchian" or "butchor"?

Question: Occupational nouns (butcher, sailor, musician, etc.) have various suffixes in English (er, or, ee, ant, etc.). Is there a set of rules to form occupational nouns from the verbs or their ...
6 votes
3 answers
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How can one determine if the opposite of an agent noun exists?

We know that the employer employs the employee and that the tutor tutors the tutee, but how do we know if the shooter shot the shootee? Is there a simple way to determine if an agent noun can be made ...
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1 answer
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What is the opposite of an agent noun?

Is there a simple phrase to describe the object of an agent noun performing an action? The adviser helped the advisee. The employer fired the employee. Is there a phrase similar to "agent noun&...
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"Improviser" or "improvisor"?

I'm trying to determine whether I should use the ~er suffix or the ~or suffix for a person who improvises. What I've learned on the web is that technically one should say "improvisor". The ~or suffix ...
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