gambler
UK[ˈɡæmblə(r)]US[ˈɡæmblər]
n
a person who gambles, especially as a regular activity or habit.
n
a person who takes risky actions in the hope of a desired result.
Morpheme Breakdown
gamble
er
gamble
er
Etymology
the word 'gambler' is a transparent english formation built upon the verb 'gamble'. the verb 'gamble' itself evolved from the earlier middle english term 'gamen', meaning "to play or sport", which is related to the modern english word 'game'. the agent suffix '-er', a prolific and ancient germanic element, was appended to denote a person habitually engaged in the activity. thus, the literal construction "one who games" semantically narrowed to specifically refer to someone who plays games of chance for money, capturing the inherent risk and playfulness associated with the original root.
Analysis
Structure: gamble + er
gamble (from middle english 'gamen', meaning "to play, sport", of germanic origin) + er (agent noun suffix, from old english '-ere', of germanic origin, indicating a person who performs an action).
Examples
the professional gambler knew the odds of every hand in blackjack.
he was a gambler in the stock market, often investing in highly volatile startups.
admitting he was a compulsive gambler was the first step toward seeking help.