changer

English

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English chaungere, chaungeour (moneychanger); equivalent to change +‎ -er.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒə/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒɚ/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Noun

changer (plural changers)

  1. Someone or something who changes things.
  2. Someone or something that changes or transforms itself.
  3. A moneychanger; a person employed in changing or discounting money.

Usage notes

  • Usually used together with another noun, eg, automatic tool changer, shape changer, mind changer.

Derived terms

French

Etymology

From Old French changier. Cognate with Norman changi, Walloon candjî.

Pronunciation

Verb

changer

  1. (transitive) to exchange (something)
  2. (transitive) to change (money, a job, one's circumstances etc.)
  3. (transitive) to change, alter (something en into)
  4. (transitive) to change (a diaper)
  5. (intransitive) to change
  6. (pronominal) to change (one's clothes), get changed

Conjugation

This is a regular -er verb, but the stem is written change- before endings that begin with -a- or -o- (to indicate that the -g- is a "soft" /ʒ/ and not a "hard" /ɡ/). This spelling change occurs in all verbs in -ger, such as neiger and manger.

Derived terms

Further reading

Old French

Verb

changer

  1. alternative form of changier

Conjugation

This verb conjugates as a first-group verb ending in -er. In the present tense an extra supporting e is needed in the first-person singular indicative and throughout the singular subjunctive, and the third-person singular subjunctive ending -t is lost. In addition, g becomes j before an a or an o to keep the /dʒ/ sound intact. Old French conjugation varies significantly by date and by region. The following conjugation should be treated as a guide.