doctor
UK[ˈdɒktə]US[ˈdɑːktər]
n
A person who is qualified to treat people who are ill
n
A person who has received the highest university degree
v
To change something in a dishonest way
v
To treat an illness or injury
Morpheme Breakdown
doct
or
doct
teach
or
person who
Etymology
The word 'doctor' has a journey from the classroom to the clinic. It entered English via Old French from the Latin 'doctor', meaning 'teacher' or 'instructor', itself from the verb 'docēre' (to teach). This reflects the original sense of a 'doctor' as a learned scholar, particularly one qualified to teach in a university, a meaning still preserved in the academic title 'Doctor of Philosophy'. Over time, the term was applied specifically to the most learned members of the medical profession, eventually becoming the standard title for a qualified medical practitioner, while the core idea of possessing and applying authoritative knowledge remained.
Analysis
Structure: doct (teach) + or (person who)
The morpheme 'doct' originates from the Latin verb 'docēre', meaning 'to teach'. The morpheme 'or' is a Latin-derived agent noun suffix meaning 'a person who performs an action'.
Examples
You should see a doctor about that persistent cough.
She earned her doctorate and became a Doctor of Law.
They were accused of doctoring the evidence before the trial.