narrator
UK[nəˈreɪtə]US[ˈnærˌeɪtər]
n
a person who tells a story, especially in a book, play, or film
n
a person who gives an account or description of events, experiences, etc.
Morpheme Breakdown
narrat
or
narrat
tell
or
person who does
Etymology
the word 'narrator' has a direct lineage from the latin verb 'narrare', which means 'to tell, relate, or make known'. this latin root is itself thought to be derived from 'gnarus', meaning 'knowing' or 'skilled', which traces back to the proto-indo-european root gno-, a prolific source of words related to knowledge. the suffix '-or' is a classic latin agentive ending used to form nouns indicating a person performing an action. thus, a narrator is, quite literally, 'one who tells', a role that has evolved from ancient storytellers to encompass modern guides in literature, film, and media who relate a sequence of events or experiences to an audience.
Analysis
Structure: narrat (tell) + or (person who does)
narrat is from latin 'narrat-', the past participle stem of 'narrare' meaning 'to tell, relate'. or is a latin agent noun suffix meaning 'a person or thing that does something'.
Examples
the novel's narrator provides a unique perspective on the events.
she worked as the narrator for the documentary series.
the film uses an unreliable narrator to create suspense.