leper
UK[ˈlɛpə]US[ˈlɛpər]
n
A person who has leprosy.
n
A person who is shunned or rejected by others for moral or social reasons.
Morpheme Breakdown
lep
er
lep
scaly
er
person/agent
Etymology
The word 'leper' originates from the Greek 'lepra', a noun derived from 'lepis' (scale), which described the scaly skin lesions characteristic of the disease. This Greek term passed into Late Latin as 'lepra' and then into Old French as 'lepre'. The English agent noun 'leper' (a person afflicted with leprosy) was formed from the Old French root. The modern figurative sense of a social outcast evolved directly from the historical practice of isolating those with the contagious disease.
Analysis
Structure: lep (scaly) + er (person/agent)
- 'lep': From Greek 'lepis' (genitive 'lepidos'), meaning 'scale' or 'flake'.
- 'er': An English agent suffix, indicating a person associated with something.
Examples
In the Middle Ages, a leper was often required to carry a bell to warn others of their approach.
After the scandal, he was treated like a leper by his former colleagues.
The colony was established to provide care and shelter for lepers.