Forms: 4 chaungeour, changeour, 4–6 chaunger, 5 chawniore, chaungere, 6– changer. [ME. changeour, a. OF. changeor (mod.F. changeur):—late L. type *cambiātōr-em; but prob. often directly f. CHANGE.]
1. One who, or that which, changes anything; see CHANGE v. 1, 6.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. xvii. (1495), 325. The mone is chaunger of the ayre.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 51–2. Though chaunge be no robbry for the chaunged case, Yet shall that chaunge rob the chaunger of his wit.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. IV. 264. The same thing cannot be the changer and changed.
1854. W. Waterworth, Anglicanism, 84. Reformers … and changers in matters of religion.
1881. P. Brooks, Candle of Lord, 192. Christ, the changer of hearts.
† 2. One who changes money, a money-changer.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 14732 (Trin.). Þe chaungeours [Cott. Gött. moneurs; Fairf. moneyers] for þat gilt Her bordes [iesus] ouer kest.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xxi. 12. He turnyde vpsadoun the bordis of chaungeris.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. iv. (1860), 8 b. The chaungers, and they that lene money.
1611. Bible, John ii. 14–5. Found in the Temple … the changers of money, sitting…. He … powred out the changers money, and ouerthrew the tables.
3. One who changes or varies; an inconstant person. rare.
a. 1605. Montgomerie, Sonn., lxx. To be thy chiftanes changers ay thou chuisis.
1611. Bible, Prov. xxiv. 21. Medle not with them that are giuen to change [marg. Heb. changers].
4. Sc. One who keeps a CHANGE-HOUSE.
1876. Grant, Burgh Sch. Scotl., II. v. 177, foot-n. On 17th April 1673, the council of Paisley … ‘ordain that changers selling drink to scholars shall pay £10 of money.’
