disposer
UK[dɪˈspəʊzə]US[dɪˈspoʊzər]
n
a person or thing that disposes of something.
n
a device, typically installed in a kitchen sink, for grinding up food waste so it can be flushed away.
Morpheme Breakdown
dis
pos
er
dis
apart
pos
to place
er
agent suffix
Etymology
the word 'disposer' is built upon the latin verb 'disponere', meaning 'to arrange' or 'to distribute', which itself is a compound of the prefix 'dis-' (apart) and 'ponere' (to place). this literal sense of 'placing things apart' evolved into the broader meaning of settling matters or getting rid of items. the agent suffix '-er' was later attached in english to form a noun denoting one who performs this action. in modern usage, it concretely refers to a person who arranges or discards, and most specifically to the mechanical device that eliminates waste.
Analysis
Structure: dis (apart) + pos (to place) + er (agent suffix)
dis- (latin origin, a prefix meaning 'apart', 'away', or having a reversing force); pos- (from latin 'ponere', meaning 'to place'); -er (old english agent suffix, indicating a person or thing that performs an action).
Examples
he acted as the sole disposer of the family estate.
remember to run cold water while the disposer is operating.
the city appointed a official disposer for hazardous materials.