paraglider
UK[ˈpærəɡlaɪdə(r)]US[ˈpærəɡlaɪdər]
n
a person who flies using a paraglider.
n
a lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure, consisting of a fabric wing and a harness.
Morpheme Breakdown
para
glider
para
beside, related to
glider
aircraft
Etymology
The word 'paraglider' is a modern 20th-century compound, created by combining the prefix 'para-' with the noun 'glider'. The prefix 'para-', borrowed from Greek via French, carries the sense of "alongside" or "related to," indicating a close association with or a variation of the core concept. The second element, 'glider', refers to an aircraft designed for unpowered flight, its root 'glide' tracing back to the Old English 'glīdan', meaning to slip or move smoothly. Thus, the term's literal construction logically describes an aircraft for gliding that is related to, yet distinct from, traditional rigid-wing gliders, specifically through its use of a flexible, parachute-like wing.
Analysis
Structure: para (beside, related to) + glider (aircraft)
para: From Greek, via French and Italian, meaning "beside, alongside, related to, or protecting from." In this compound, it denotes a related or derivative form of gliding.
glider: From the English verb 'glide' (to move smoothly and continuously) + the agent noun suffix '-er'. 'Glide' originates from Old English 'glīdan', of Germanic origin.
Examples
She took a course to become a certified paraglider.
He packed his paraglider into a large backpack for the hike up the mountain.
The coastal cliffs are a popular launch site for paragliders.