explainer
UK[ɪkˈspleɪnə]US[ɪkˈspleɪnər]
n
a person or thing that explains something, especially a short video, article, or diagram that makes a complex subject easy to understand.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
plain
er
ex
out
plain
flat, clear
er
Etymology
The word 'explainer' is a modern agent noun formed from the verb 'explain'. Its core, 'plain', originates from the latin 'planus', meaning 'flat' or 'clear'. The prefix 'ex-' intensifies this, giving the sense of 'making clear outwards' or 'flattening out' a concept for understanding. The suffix '-er', a productive english agentive ending, then transforms the action into a label for the person or medium that performs it. Thus, an explainer literally denotes something that makes a subject thoroughly clear and comprehensible to others.
Analysis
Structure: ex + plain + er
ex- (latin origin, a prefix meaning 'out' or 'thoroughly')
plain (latin origin via old french, from the root 'planus' meaning 'flat, clear')
-er (old english origin, an agent noun suffix indicating 'a person or thing that does something')
Examples
The animated explainer made the new tax rules surprisingly easy to grasp.
She is a gifted explainer of complex philosophical ideas.
The website features a series of short explainers on how blockchain technology works.