suffix, is an anglicized form of the Fr. suffix -ier (repr. normally L. -iārius, and in many words replacing -air:—L. -ārius; see -ARY1), used to form sbs. denoting persons, as in canonnier CANNONEER, muletier MULETEER; the usual sense is ‘one who is concerned with,’ or ‘one who deals in.’ (Where the sb. from which the F. word was formed never became familiar in Eng. use, the original spelling -ier is retained, as in bombardier, grenadier). In imitation of these words (perh. in some instances rather in imitation of Sp. sbs. in -ero, of similar origin) the suffix is added to Eng. sbs. to form designations of persons, as auctioneer, charioteer, mountaineer (earlier -er). In many of the words so formed there is a more or less contemptuous implication, as in crotcheteer, garreteer, pamphleteer, pulpiteer, sonneteer.
