ex-cop

The word is a modern English compound formed by directly combining a productive Latin prefix with a slang term. The prefix 'ex-', from Latin, carries its classical sense of 'out of' or 'formerly', indicating a state of having left a role or group. The second element, 'cop', is a clipped form of 'copper', a 19th-century agent noun from the verb 'to cop' meaning to seize or capture, which itself has uncertain origins, possibly from Old French 'caper'. The compound logically and transparently denotes someone who is formerly a member of the police force, showcasing the flexibility of English in blending classical and vernacular elements to create precise, informal vocabulary.

Structure: ex (former) + cop (police officer) - ex: Latin origin, a prefix meaning 'out of, from, former'. - cop: English origin, a slang term for a police officer, derived from 'copper' (one who cops or captures).