librarian
UK: laɪˈbreə.ri.ən | US: laɪˈbrer.i.ən
n. a person who works in a library, managing collections of books and assisting users
n. a specialist in library science or information management
librarian = libr<book> + arian<person associated with>
- libr<book>: From Latin liber (book), originally referring to the inner bark of trees used for writing.
- arian<person associated with>: A suffix derived from Latin -arius, denoting someone connected to a specific role or function (e.g., librarian, vegetarian).
Etymology Origin:
The word librarian traces back to the Latin librarius (scribe or bookseller), combining liber (book) with the agentive suffix -arius. Over time, librarian evolved in English (16th century) to specifically denote a person managing a library, reflecting the shift from handwritten manuscripts to organized book collections. The morphemes highlight the core function: a professional tied to books (libr) and their curation (arian).
The librarian helped me find a rare historical manuscript.
She trained as a librarian to specialize in digital archives.
Our school librarian organizes reading programs for students.
The librarian cataloged the new donations meticulously.
He became a librarian to promote literacy in his community.