massager
UK[ˈmæsɑːʒə(r)]US[məˈsɑːʒər]
n
A person who gives massages.
n
A device used for giving massages.
Morpheme Breakdown
massage
er
massage
to rub
er
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'massager' is a modern English formation built upon the earlier noun 'massage'. The term 'massage' entered English in the late 19th century from French, which borrowed it from the Arabic verb 'masḥa', meaning 'to stroke, to rub'. The French suffix '-age' was added to form a noun denoting the action or process. English then applied the productive agentive suffix '-er', of Germanic origin, to create 'massager'. This suffix logically attaches to the action noun to denote either the person who performs the massage or, by common extension, a tool or device designed to perform the action. Thus, the word's construction transparently follows the pattern of verb/noun + -er to indicate an agent or instrument.
Analysis
Structure: massage (to rub) + er (agent suffix)
- 'massage' (from French, ultimately from Arabic 'masḥa' meaning 'to stroke, rub')
- 'er' (agentive suffix of Germanic origin, indicating a person or thing that performs an action)
Examples
She hired a professional massager to relieve the tension in her shoulders.
He bought an electric foot massager for his mother.
The physical therapist used a handheld massager on the patient's sore muscles.