receptionist
UK[rɪˈsɛpʃənɪst]US[rɪˈsɛpʃənɪst]
n
A person whose job is to welcome and deal with people arriving in a hotel, office, hospital, etc., or to answer the telephone.
Morpheme Breakdown
reception
ist
reception
act of receiving
ist
person who does
Etymology
The word 'receptionist' is a modern occupational term built upon the older noun 'reception'. 'Reception' itself originates from the Latin verb recipere, meaning 'to take back, regain, or receive', which is a compound of re- (back) and capere (to take). The suffix '-ist', borrowed via Latin from Greek, is a prolific agent-noun suffix in English, denoting a person who performs a specific role. Thus, the literal morphemic logic is "a person concerned with receiving." This evolved from the general concept of receiving guests or visitors to specify the professional role of managing front-desk duties in various establishments, embodying the function of being the primary point of contact and welcome.
Analysis
Structure: reception (act of receiving) + ist (person who does)
reception: From Latin reception- (stem of receptio), from recipere (to receive). Acts as the core noun base in the word.
ist: From Latin -ista, from Greek -istēs, a suffix forming agent nouns. Indicates a person who performs a specific action or is concerned with a specific thing.
Examples
Please leave your key at the front desk with the receptionist.
She works as a medical receptionist in a busy clinic.
The hotel receptionist was very helpful in recommending local restaurants.