Etymo

amateur

Someone who pursues an activity without being a professional.

Played on · Day 47 · word 3 of 5

Doing something for the love of it

How amateur reached English

oldest first
  • amāre‘to have affection for, love, be in love, make love to’
  • -tōr-, -tor‘agent suffix’

combined

  1. Latin

    amātor

    ‘lover, enthusiastic admirer, devotee’

    into French

  2. French

    amateur

    ‘one who loves, lover’

    into English

  3. English

    amateur

The story of amateur

The French ancestor of amateur meant one who loves. It continues Latin amātor, lover or devotee, formed from amāre, love.

The slots select a Latin verb, its agent noun and a later English use, omitting the intervening French forms. Nonprofessional does not imply unskilled. The deeper origin of amāre is uncertain.

Source

Merriam-Webster: amateur

Word History and Kids Etymology give the French meaning and Latin formation.

Related

The name points toward devotion, even though amateur now often contrasts with professional.

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