Batterers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who inflicts physical harm or abuse on another, typically in an intimate relationship
2. Someone who perpetuates physical violence against a partner or family member
3. An individual engaged in the act of striking or assaulting another person, often in a domestic context

Etymology: The plural "batterers" is simply the plural of "batterer," which is formed from the verb "batter" plus the agent suffix "-er," meaning one who performs the action. The verb itself is the more interesting part of the story. "Batter" comes from Old French "batre," which descends from Latin "battuere," meaning to beat or strike, and it passed into English in the Middle English period, when it meant to beat repeatedly with blows. The suffix has a longer pedigree than the base word. The "-er" ending traces back through Old English "-ere" and Latin "-arius," which ran through the Proto-Germanic and Proto-Italic stages before reaching English, so the same ending that appears in "baker" or "farmer" is doing the same job here: naming the person who carries out the action. Put together, a batterer is literally one who beats, and the word's sense has narrowed over time to the violent abuse of a partner or family member.

Synonyms: abusers, assailants, attackers

Antonyms: protectors, defenders, saviors