reaper
UK: ˈriːpə | US: ˈriːpər
n. 1. A person or machine that harvests crops, especially grain.
n. 2. (figurative) A force or agent that causes destruction or death (e.g., "the Grim Reaper").
The word "reaper" derives from the Old English verb "repan" (to reap), which traces back to the Proto-Germanic *repaną, meaning "to cut or gather." The suffix "-er" (from Old English "-ere") denotes an agent performing the action. Historically, "reaper" referred to farm laborers harvesting crops, but its figurative use (e.g., "Grim Reaper") emerged in the 15th century, personifying death as a harvester of lives. The logic mirrors agricultural imagery—death "cuts down" lives as a reaper cuts crops.
The farmer hired a reaper to harvest the wheat fields efficiently.
In folklore, the Grim Reaper is depicted with a scythe, symbolizing mortality.
Modern reapers are equipped with advanced technology to reduce labor costs.
The poem describes war as a merciless reaper of young souls.
Before mechanization, reapers worked dawn to dusk during harvest season.