masturbator
UK[ˈmæstəbeɪtə]US[ˈmæstərbeɪtər]
n
A person who masturbates.
n
A device designed to facilitate masturbation.
Morpheme Breakdown
masturb
ator
masturb
to defile
ator
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'masturbator' is built upon the Latin verb masturbari, whose own origin is somewhat obscure but is most convincingly traced to a combination of manus (hand) and stuprare (to defile, to rape). This literal notion of "defiling with the hand" evolved into the specific meaning of self-stimulation for sexual pleasure. The agent suffix '-ator', borrowed directly from Latin, is then appended to form a noun denoting either the person who performs the act or, by modern extension, a device that performs the function. Thus, the term's logic moves from an ancient, morally-charged concept of manual defilement to a neutral, descriptive term for an actor or instrument related to autoeroticism.
Analysis
Structure: masturb (to defile) + ator (agent suffix)
- masturb: From Latin masturbari (to masturbate), possibly from manus (hand) + stuprare (to defile).
- ator: A Latin-derived agent noun suffix, indicating a person or thing that performs the action of the verb.
Examples
The novel's protagonist was portrayed as a lonely masturbator.
The store sold a variety of discreet masturbators designed for solo pleasure.
He felt no shame in identifying as a frequent masturbator, viewing it as a normal part of his sexuality.