cleaner
UK[ˈkliːnə(r)]US[ˈkliːnər]
n
a person whose job is to clean the inside of a building
n
a substance or device used for cleaning things
Morpheme Breakdown
clean
er
clean
verb/adjective
er
agent/instrument suffix
Etymology
the word 'cleaner' is a transparent english compound formed from the native english root 'clean' and the agentive suffix '-er'. the old english adjective 'clǣne' carried meanings of purity, clarity, and freedom from dirt, evolving from proto-germanic 'klainiz' (shining, fine). the suffix '-er', from proto-germanic '-ārijaz', was used to denote someone or something associated with an action. therefore, the literal construction 'one who/that which cleans' directly and logically yields the modern meanings of a person employed to clean or a substance/tool designed for cleaning. this pattern of verb/adjective + '-er' is highly productive in english, creating clear and intuitive agent and instrument nouns.
Analysis
Structure: clean (verb/adjective) + er (agent/instrument suffix)
- clean: from old english 'clǣne' (pure, clear, free from dirt). functions as the core semantic root.
- er: from old english '-ere', a suffix used to form agent nouns (one who does) or instrument nouns (thing that does). functions as a derivational suffix.
Examples
the office cleaner arrives after everyone has gone home.
she used a powerful cleaner to remove the stain from the carpet.
this new vacuum cleaner is much more efficient than the old one.