-ter

See also: ter, TER, tér, têr, țer, ter-, and Appendix:Variations of "ter"

Latin

Alternative forms

• -iter

Etymology

Perhaps ultimately from the nominative masculine singular of contrastive adjectives in Proto-Indo-European *-teros, later used more generally; perhaps extended from the suffix in prepositions like inter, praeter. Cognate with Ancient Greek -τερος (-teros).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ter/, [t̪ɛɾ]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ter/, [t̪ɛr]

Suffix

-ter (comparative -tius, superlative -tissimē)

1. -ly; used to form adverbs from adjectives.

Usage notes

The suffix -ter is usually added to a third-declension adjective or participle stem to form an adverb of manner.

Examples:

prudenter (“intelligently, wisely”), from prudēns (“knowing, experienced”)

dissimulanter (“dissemblingly, secretly”), from dissimulāns, present active participle of dissimulō (“dissemble, conceal”)

Synonyms

• (-ly): -ē, -er, -ō

See also

► Latin words suffixed with -ter

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Welsh

Alternative forms

• -der

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *-teros (comparative suffix), from Proto-Indo-European *-teros. Cognate with Cornish -ter.

Pronunciation

• (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /tɛr/, /dɛr/
  • (North Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /tar/, /dar/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /tɛr/, /dɛr/

Usage notes

/tɛr/ and /dɛr/ are variants of the same suffix. /tɛr/ (phonetically [tʰɛr]) is always spelt -ter whereas /dɛr/ is represented by -ter after an unvoiced fricative (phonetically [tɛr]) and by -der after other voiced sounds (phonetically [dɛr]).

Suffix

-ter m (plural -terau)

1. forming abstract nouns, -ness, -ment

   ‎craff (“observant, astute”) + ‎-ter → ‎craffter (“astuteness”)

   ‎pell (“far”) + ‎-ter → ‎pellter (“distance”)

   ‎gwag (“empty”) + ‎-ter → ‎gwacter (“emptiness”)

Derived terms

► Welsh words suffixed with -ter

Further reading

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present) , “-ter”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies