flyer
UK[ˈflaɪə(r)]US[ˈflaɪər]
n
a small sheet of paper or leaflet giving information or advertising something.
n
a person or thing that flies, especially in a particular way (e.g., a frequent flyer).
n
a daring or speculative venture or investment.
Morpheme Breakdown
fly
er
fly
to move through the air
er
agent suffix
Etymology
the word 'flyer' is a transparent english compound formed from the verb 'fly' and the agentive suffix '-er'. the verb 'fly' originates from the old english flēogan, which has deep proto-germanic roots, ultimately connected to the proto-indo-european root pleu- meaning 'to flow, to float', conceptually linking the movement of air or birds to flowing water. the suffix '-er', from old english -ere, is a common germanic agent-noun formative used to denote someone or something that performs the action of the verb. therefore, the literal meaning of 'flyer' is 'one that flies'. this core meaning has logically extended from a person or creature that flies, to an object designed for flight (like an aircraft), and further to printed materials that metaphorically 'fly' through the air by being distributed quickly and widely, as well as to a person who travels frequently by air.
Analysis
Structure: fly (to move through the air) + er (agent suffix)
fly: from old english flēogan, of germanic origin; the verb meaning to move through the air.
er: from old english -ere, an agent-noun suffix indicating a person or thing that performs an action.
Examples
they handed out flyers advertising the new cafe on the street corner.
as a frequent flyer, she has accumulated enough miles for a free trip.
investing in that startup was a real flyer, but it paid off handsomely.