后缀-ster = 做…的人、与…有关系的人
一些含有此后缀的词含有贱称 / 轻蔑的意义,表示“某种样子的人”,例如:trickster 骗子、gamester 赌徒 / 赌棍、gangster 匪徒 / 歹徒、mobster 暴徒 / 匪徒;亦可表示“交通工具”,如:speedster 双座高速车。
英文词源:Old English -istre, from Proto-Germanic *-istrijon, feminine agent suffix used as the equivalent of masculine -ere (see -er (1)). Also used in Middle English to form nouns of action (meaning "a person who ...") without regard for gender.
The genderless agent noun use apparently was a broader application of the original feminine suffix, beginning in the north of England, but linguists disagree over whether this indicates female domination of weaving and baking trades, as represented in surnames such as Webster, Baxter, Brewster, etc. (though spinster probably carries an originally female ending). Also whitester "one who bleaches cloth." In Modern English, the suffix has been productive in forming derivative nouns (gamester, punster, etc.).
同缀词:
1.songster [song 歌 + -ster 后缀表示人→]
n.歌手,歌唱家
2.dabster [dab n. 少许; 是…能手 + -ster 后缀表示人]
n.能手,巧手
3.punster [pun n. 双关语; 俏皮话 + -ster 后缀表示人→]
n. 爱用双关语的人
4.tapster [tap vt. (从容器等)汲取(液体)+ -ster 后缀表示人→]
n.酒吧间招待员
5.gamester [game 游戏,比赛 + -ster 后缀表示人→]
n.赌徒
6.gangster [gang 帮派,团体;(盗贼等的)一帮 + -ster 后缀表示人→]
n.歹徒;盗匪 (趣记:干死他)
7.minister [拉丁文mini = samll + -ster 后缀表示人→小人物→佣人;神或国民的个人→]
n.部长,牧师;(古)仆人
8.spinster [spin 纺线 + -ster 后缀表示人 → 以前,未婚女性通常都在家里纺线织布,所以,十七世纪之后,过了适婚年龄而未结婚的女子都这么称呼。]
n.未婚女性;老处女
9.youngster [young 年轻的 + -ster 后缀表示人→]
n.青年;少年(趣记:淹死他)