eatern.

Brit.

/ˈiːtə/, U.S.

/ˈidər/

Forms: Also Old English–Middle English eter(e, Middle English etar.

Etymology: < eat v. + -er suffix¹.

a. A person who eats; also with up, a consumer, devourer, and with object noun prefixed, as bread-eater, flesh-eater.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > [noun] > eater

eatera1000

repaster1517

feeder1550

moutha1553

dieter1577

trencherman1590

assument1657

eatress1834

grubber1838

pecker1862

nosher1917

a1000 Prov. 18 (Bosw.) Eteras, commessatores.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 47 Ase byeþ þe mochele drinkeres and eteres.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 267/2 Thou etar of porrete wene thou to take me out of myn hows?

1483 Cath. Angl. 118 An Eter, comestor.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ezek. xxxvi. 13 Thou art an eater vp of men, and a waister of thy people.

1639 J. Shirley Maides Revenge iii. sig. F3 Doe I looke like a Spider-catcher, or Toade-eater?

1710 Fuller Tatler No. 205. ⁋2 [I] always speak of them with the Distinction of the Eaters, and the Swallowers.

1807 R. Wilson Jrnl. 7 June in Life Gen. Sir R. Wilson (1862) II. viii. 253 We slept like pudding-eaters.

1837 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (1842) VI. vii. 95 It severs the fruit from the eater.

figurative.1829 E. Elliott Village Patriarch Notes 179 Unless the bread-tax-eaters can be induced to convene.

b. with adjective prefixed, as great, moderate, etc.

ΚΠ

1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) II. 37 They are great eaters.

1809 J. C. Moore Campaign in Spain 62 He [Sir John Moore] was a very plain and moderate eater.

1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia II. viii. v. 351 He is no great eater.

c. transferred. Of chemical corrosives.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > corrosion > substance that causes corrosion

corrosive1471

eater1610

diabrotic1775

1610 G. Markham Maister-peece ii. cxxx. 432 Litergie, or lime, in lye..are likewise very violent and strong eaters.

2. A fruit that eats well, or is intended to be eaten uncooked (cf. cooker n. 3).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > [noun] > to be eaten uncooked

eater1906

1906 Notes & Queries V. 156/1 The apples with none, or only small pips, were not so good as eaters or cookers.

1930 Observer 11 May 13/2 The blossom is as thick..on the hardy ‘cooker’ as on the shy and delicate ‘eater’.

1953 E. Hyams Vineyards in Eng. ix. 78 This [grape] is quite a good eater.

Derivatives

ˈeatress n. [see -ess suffix¹] a woman who eats.

ΘΚΠ