part-timer
UK[ˈpɑːtˌtaɪmə]US[ˈpɑːrtˌtaɪmər]
n
A person who works or is employed for fewer than the full number of hours considered normal or standard.
Morpheme Breakdown
part
time
er
part
partial
time
period of work
er
person who does
Etymology
The term 'part-timer' is a modern compound noun formed within English by combining existing words. The first element, 'part', derives from Latin pars, meaning a piece or share, and here modifies the nature of the work as being less than the whole. The second element, 'time', has Germanic origins and in this context specifically denotes the hours or schedule of employment. The agent suffix '-er' is added to create a noun for a person engaged in this type of work. Thus, the word's logic is transparent: a person who works for a portion of the standard or full working time.
Analysis
Structure: part (partial) + time (period of work) + er (person who does)
- part: From Old French part and Latin pars (a piece, a share). In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning 'partial' or 'less than full'.
- time: From Old English tīma (a period, a season). In this compound, it refers specifically to the period or schedule of work.
- er: From Old English -ere, an agent noun suffix indicating 'a person who does or works with something'.
Examples
The cafe employs several part-timers to cover the busy lunch shifts.
She worked as a part-timer while completing her university degree.
The new policy offers benefits to part-timers who work over twenty hours a week.