broker
UK[ˈbrəʊkə]US[ˈbroʊkər]
n
A person who buys and sells things, such as shares in a company or foreign money, for other people.
n
A person or company that helps to arrange an agreement between people or groups.
v
To arrange the details of an agreement between people or groups.
Morpheme Breakdown
brok
er
brok
to use, break
er
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'broker' has a vivid commercial history rooted in the wine trade. It entered Middle English from Anglo-Norman French, where a 'brocour' was originally a wine retailer or tapster, one who 'broached' or tapped casks. The core notion of 'broaching' or 'breaking into' a commodity evolved into the more general sense of a dealer or middleman. Over time, the term broadened from its specific association with wine to encompass any intermediary who facilitates transactions, negotiates deals, or 'breaks' goods into the market, solidifying its modern financial and agentive meaning.
Analysis
Structure: brok (to use, break) + er (agent suffix)
'brok' originates from the Anglo-Norman French 'brocour' and Old French 'brocheor', meaning 'a retailer of wine, a tapster', which is related to the verb 'brochier' (to broach, tap). Its ultimate origin is the Latin 'broccus' (projecting, pointed). The suffix '-er' is an agent noun suffix from Old English '-ere', of Germanic origin, used to form nouns denoting a person associated with an action or occupation.
Examples
He works as an insurance broker.
The deal was brokered by an international diplomat.
You will need to contact a mortgage broker to find the best rate.