trickster
UK: ˈtrɪkstə | US: ˈtrɪkstər
n. a person who deceives or cheats others, often playfully
n. a mischievous or cunning character in folklore or mythology
trickster = trick<deceive> + ster<agent suffix>
- trick: From Middle English trik, meaning "deception" or "artifice," derived from Old French trique (deceit), possibly of Germanic origin.
- ster: An agentive suffix from Old English -estre, used to form nouns indicating a person associated with an action (e.g., spinster, songster).
Etymology Origin:
The word trickster combines trick, rooted in medieval deceit, with -ster, an Old English suffix for roles or occupations. Historically, it described someone skilled in deception, later evolving to denote playful or mythological figures (e.g., Loki, Anansi). The suffix -ster originally had feminine connotations (e.g., spinster) but became gender-neutral over time.
The trickster fooled the villagers with his clever illusions.
In many cultures, the trickster is both a hero and a troublemaker.
She played the trickster by swapping the sugar with salt.
The fox in the fable is a classic trickster figure.
His reputation as a trickster made others wary of his schemes.