amateur
UK[ˈæmətə]US[ˈæmətər]
n
a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport or an artistic activity, on an unpaid basis rather as a hobby.
n
a person who is incompetent or unskilled at a particular activity.
adj
engaging in a pursuit on an unpaid basis.
adj
characteristic of an amateur; not professional.
Morpheme Breakdown
amat
eur
amat
love
eur
agent suffix
Etymology
the word 'amateur' entered english in the late 18th century from french, where it literally meant 'lover' or 'enthusiast'. its french form derived directly from the latin verb 'amare', meaning 'to love'. the core semantic logic is that an amateur pursues an activity out of passion or love for it, rather than for professional remuneration. this original sense of 'one who loves' evolved to denote a non-professional, and later acquired a sometimes pejorative sense of lacking skill, contrasting the passion of the lover with the expertise of the professional.
Analysis
Structure: amat (love) + eur (agent suffix)
amat originates from the latin verb 'amare', meaning 'to love'. eur is a french agent suffix, derived from latin '-ator', indicating a person who performs an action.
Examples
she competed in the golf tournament as an amateur before turning professional.
the wiring in the old house had the look of an amateur's work.
his amateur status in photography did not prevent him from taking stunning images.