Boosters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An item or substance that enhances performance or capacity in various contexts
2. A device or entity that increases energy or effectiveness, especially in technology or health
3. A mechanism intended to provide extra support or stimulation, often for growth or improvement in different areas

Etymology: "Boosters" is the plural of "booster," a noun formed in English from "boost" plus the agent suffix "-er," which turns a verb into a word for a thing or person that performs the action. So a booster is literally something that boosts, and the plural names several such things at once. The suffix has a longer past than the verb it attaches to. The "-er" ending descends from Latin "-arius," which denoted a person connected with or performing a task, and it reached English through Old French "-ier" and Middle English "-er." Old English already had its own form, "-ere," used the same way, so English speakers were comfortable with the pattern long before "boost" entered the language. "Boost" itself is the element that gives the word its meaning, and the source does not give it a separate history here, so the core story is simply how a plain suffix attached to a verb produces a noun for whatever gives something a lift.

Synonyms: enhancers, supporters, advocates

Antonyms: detractors, opposers