Admirers

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ədˈmaɪ.ɹɚz/

Definitions

1. Individuals who feel a strong sense of respect or fondness for another person
2. People who look up to and appreciate someone else for their qualities or achievements
3. Those who hold a high opinion of someone and often show approval or devotion toward them

Etymology: "Admirers" is the plural of "admirer", a word built from "admire" plus the agent suffix "-er", which turns a verb into a noun for someone who does the action. The verb "admire" came into English from Latin "admirari", meaning to wonder at or regard with surprise, and the original sense carried that sense of astonishment more strongly than the modern idea of approval. The suffix has a longer and more varied route than the verb. It descends from Latin "-arius", which English received through Old French "-ier" and Middle English "-er", while Old English already had its own "-ere" doing the same job, so the ending ended up doubled across two traditions. Its many descendants, from "baker" to "writer", all share this single ancestor.

Synonyms: fans, supporters, devotees, enthusiasts, worshippers

Antonyms: critics, detractors, opponents