-aster

¹

1. a diminutive or pejorative suffix denoting something that imperfectly resembles or mimics the true thing:

   criticaster; poetaster, oleaster.

-aster

²

1. Chiefly Biology. a combining form with the meaning “star,” used in the formation of compound words:

   diaster.

aster

³

[ as-ter ]

noun

1. any composite plant of the genus Aster, having rays varying from white or pink to blue around a yellow disk.
2. a plant of some allied genus, as the China aster.
3. Cell Biology. a structure formed in a cell during mitosis, composed of astral rays radiating about the centrosome.
4. Furniture. sunflower ( def 2 ).

-aster

¹

suffix forming nouns

1. a person or thing that is inferior or bears only a poor resemblance to what is specified

   poetaster

aster

²

/ ˈæstə /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Aster, having white, blue, purple, or pink daisy-like flowers: family Asteraceae (composites) Compare golden aster
2. China aster
   a related Chinese plant, Callistephus chinensis, widely cultivated for its showy brightly coloured flowers
3. cytology a group of radiating microtubules that surrounds the centrosome before and during mitosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of -aster¹

From Latin

Origin of -aster²

< Greek astḗr star; astro-

Origin of -aster³

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin, from Greek astḗr “star”; star

Word History and Origins

Origin of -aster¹

from Latin: suffix indicating imperfect resemblance

Origin of -aster²

C18: from New Latin, from Latin aster star, from Greek

Example Sentences

It’s as if Ari Aster had a leftover prop from “Hereditary” that was gathering dust inside an A24 storage shed and someone decided to insert it into “We Live in Time” just to see if anyone would notice.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the producers on the film are Lars Knudsen and director Ari Aster and their company Square Peg.

From Los Angeles Times

They brought on Steve Newburn, who worked on Aster’s “Beau is Afraid,” to create the creature costumes.

From Los Angeles Times

Before “Civil War,” A24’s biggest debut was the Ari Aster horror “Hereditary,” which opened to $13.6 million in 2018.

From Seattle Times

Not to be too on-brand in my love of Ari Aster, but aren’t Toni Collette in “Hereditary” and Florence Pugh in “Midsommar” two recent examples of importing unusually potent acting firepower to a genre that often lacks it?

From Los Angeles Times