robber
UK[ˈrɒbə]US[ˈrɑːbər]
n
a person who steals from someone or somewhere, especially using force or threats
Etymology
The word 'robber' originates from the Middle English 'robbour', which came from the Anglo-Norman French 'rober', meaning to rob. This, in turn, is likely of Germanic origin, related to the Old High German 'roubōn', meaning 'to plunder'. The core concept has consistently been the unlawful taking of property, often by force. The agentive suffix '-er' (from Old English '-ere', related to the Latin '-ator') was added to form the noun denoting the person who performs the action, solidifying its meaning as 'one who robs'.
Analysis
The word 'robber' is a simplex noun derived from the verb 'rob' with the addition of the agentive suffix '-er'. The verb 'rob' itself is a tight Germanic root, making further segmentation into meaningful morphemes within the modern spelling 'robber' not feasible.
Examples
The bank robber was apprehended by police shortly after the heist.
In the old tale, the travelers were afraid of meeting robbers on the forest road.
Security cameras are essential for identifying a robber.