inflator
UK[ɪnˈfleɪtə]US[ɪnˈfleɪtər]
n
A device or person that inflates something, especially a pump for filling tires or balloons with air.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
flat
or
in
in, into
flat
blow
or
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'inflator' is built on the Latin verb inflare, meaning "to blow into or inflate". This verb itself combines the prefix in- ("into") with the root flare ("to blow"), a verb of Proto-Indo-European origin (bhle-) related to the movement of air. The agent suffix -or was then appended in English to form a noun denoting the instrument or person that performs the action of inflating. Thus, the literal "blower-into" evolved into the modern term for a device, like a pump, that fills something with air or gas.
Analysis
Structure: in (in, into) + flat (blow) + or (agent suffix)
- in: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "in, into, on".
- flat: From Latin flatus, the past participle stem of flare meaning "to blow".
- or: Latin agent suffix, indicating a person or thing that performs an action.
Examples
He used a bicycle pump as a makeshift tire inflator.
The new electric inflator made blowing up the air mattress much easier.
The government was accused of being an inflator of the currency through excessive money printing.