-ard

American  

1. a suffix forming nouns that denote persons who regularly engage in an activity, or who are characterized in a certain way, as indicated by the stem; now usually pejorative.

   coward; dullard; drunkard; wizard.

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-ard British  

suffix

1. indicating a person who does something, esp to excess, or is characterized by a certain quality

   braggart

   drunkard

   dullard

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Usage

What does -ard mean? The combining form -ard is a suffix denoting “someone who engages often in an activity,” and it is frequently pejorative. It is often used in everyday terms.The form -ard comes from German -hard, meaning “strong; hardy; hard,” which is a cognate of English hard.What are variants of -ard?In some rare instances, the form -ard becomes -art, as in braggart. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about -art.

Etymology

Origin of -ard

Middle English < Old French, probably extracted from Frankish compound personal names; compare Old High German Adalhart ( French Alard ), Bernhart ( French Bernard ), with 2nd element -hart literally, strong, hardy, hard (cognate with Old English -heard in names), often merely as intensifier of quality denoted in 1st element.

Example Sentences

The endings -ard, -ald, are generally changed to -ett; cf.

From The Romance of Names by Weekley, Ernest

These words sometimes have a special meaning, as toumbant, declivity. -ard, -ardo.

From Frédéric Mistral Poet and Leader in Provence by Downer, Charles Alfred

Here used in contempt, like many other words with the suffix -ard, or -art, as braggart, sluggard, etc.

From Milton's Comus by Bell, William