teller
UK: ˈtelə | US: ˈtelər
n. 1. A person who tells stories or information (e.g., a bank teller).
n. 2. A device that counts or records (e.g., a vote teller).
n. 3. (Archaic) A narrator or storyteller.
The word "teller" originates from the Old English verb "tellan," meaning "to count, reckon, or narrate." The suffix "-er," of Germanic origin, denotes a person or device performing an action. Over time, "teller" evolved to specifically refer to bank employees handling transactions (from the sense of "counting money") and individuals narrating stories. The dual meaning reflects the word’s logical progression from general action (telling/counting) to specialized roles.
The bank teller processed my deposit efficiently.
In folklore, the wise old teller captivated the village with his tales.
Automated vote tellers streamlined the election process.
She worked as a teller for a decade before becoming a manager.
The museum’s audio guide acted as a digital teller of historical events.