breathalyzer
UK[ˈbreθəlaɪzə]US[ˈbreθəlaɪzər]
n
A device used by police to measure the amount of alcohol in a driver's breath.
Morpheme Breakdown
breath
alyz
er
breath
alyz
er
Etymology
The word "breathalyzer" is a modern portmanteau, trademarked in the 1950s, which ingeniously combines three distinct morphemes into a single functional unit. It fuses the Old English "breath," specifying the target medium, with a clipped form of the Greek-derived verb "analyze," indicating the action of examination. The final agent suffix "-er" transforms the compound into a noun denoting the instrument itself. This construction follows a transparent and logical pattern common in technical English: specifying the object of analysis plus the action, resulting in a device name that is immediately understandable despite its blended origins.
Analysis
Structure: breath + alyz + er
- breath (Old English): The air taken into or expelled from the lungs. In this compound, it specifies the substance being analyzed.
- alyz (Greek, via Latin and French): A clipped form of 'analyze', meaning to examine in detail.
- er (Old English): An agent noun suffix, indicating a person or thing that performs an action.
Examples
The police officer asked the driver to take a breathalyzer test.
Newer models of the breathalyzer are more accurate and portable.
Refusing to use a breathalyzer can result in an immediate license suspension.