highlighter
UK[ˈhaɪˌlaɪ.tər]US[ˈhaɪˌlaɪ.t̬ɚ]
n
a special pen containing bright, transparent ink, used to mark parts of a text so they can be seen easily.
n
a cosmetic product used to emphasize facial features by reflecting light.
Morpheme Breakdown
high
light
er
high
bright
light
illuminate
er
agent suffix
Etymology
the word 'highlighter' is a modern english compound, formed in the mid-20th century. it combines 'highlight', a verb meaning to make visually prominent or to emphasize, with the agent suffix '-er'. the verb 'highlight' itself is a metaphorical extension from the artistic technique of applying bright touches ('high lights') to a painting to make certain areas stand out. thus, a 'highlighter' is literally 'a thing that makes something bright and prominent,' a logic perfectly preserved in its function of marking text or facial features for emphasis.
Analysis
Structure: high (bright) + light (illuminate) + er (agent suffix)
high: from old english 'hēah' (of great vertical extent, exalted, important). in this compound, it carries the sense of 'eminent' or 'prominent'.
light: from old english 'lēoht' (brightness, illumination). here it refers to making something visually bright or noticeable.
er: from old english '-ere', an agent noun suffix indicating a person or thing that performs an action.
Examples
she used a yellow highlighter to mark the key terms in her textbook.
apply the liquid highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones for a subtle glow.
the most important clause in the contract was circled in red and underlined with a highlighter.