adjustor
UK[əˈdʒʌstə]US[əˈdʒʌstər]
n
a person or thing that adjusts or settles insurance claims, especially for loss or damage.
n
a device or mechanism for making small changes to the position, setting, or operation of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
adjust
or
adjust
or
Etymology
the word 'adjustor' is a modern english formation built upon the verb 'adjust'. the core verb 'adjust' entered english from old french 'ajuster', which itself evolved from the vulgar latin 'adiuxtare', meaning to bring near or put close. this latin term combined the preposition 'ad-' (to) with 'iuxta' (near). the suffix '-or' is a direct borrowing from latin '-ator', a productive agentive suffix that denotes a person or instrument performing a specific action. therefore, an 'adjustor' is literally 'one who brings things near to a correct state', a meaning clearly preserved in its modern roles, from settling financial claims to fine-tuning mechanical devices.
Analysis
Structure: adjust + or
adjust (from old french 'ajuster', meaning to arrange, from vulgar latin 'adiuxtare', from latin 'ad-' (to) + 'iuxta' (near)); or (from latin '-ator', agent noun suffix, indicating a person or thing that performs an action).
Examples
the insurance adjustor assessed the damage to the vehicle after the accident.
he worked as a loss adjustor for a major property insurance company.
turn the small adjustor on the side of the gauge to calibrate the pressure reading.