Caresser

/kəˈrɛsər/ noun

Definition

A person or thing that caresses; one who touches gently and affectionately.

Etymology

From French 'caresseur', the agent noun from 'caresser' (to caress). This is the French grammatical form '-eur' that was borrowed into English, though 'caresser' as a verb was more successful in English than its agent noun.

Kelly Says

While 'caresser' never became common in English (we prefer 'one who caresses'), this word shows how English borrowed French's elegant agent-noun suffixes but didn't always keep them all—compare 'actor' (Latin) vs. this failed 'caresser'.

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