Consulter

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who consults an expert or professional for advice or information
2. Someone who asks for guidance or recommendations from a specialist
3. An individual who requests counsel or opinion from a knowledgeable source

Etymology: "Consulter" is a plain formation: the verb "consult" with the agent suffix "-er" attached, so it names someone who consults. The suffix has a long ancestry, since it descends from Old English "-ere" and passed into Middle English as "-er". The verb it attaches to comes from Latin "consultare", meaning to deliberate or take counsel, and the same root gives English "consult" its sense of asking for advice from someone who knows. The noun is best understood as a direct extension of that verb. Once English had "consult" meaning to seek advice, the agent suffix naturally produced a word for the person doing the seeking. The result is a transparent piece of word-building rather than a borrowing with a dramatic backstory, and its meaning is exactly what its parts suggest.

Synonyms: advisor, counselor, consultant, guide, mentor

Antonyms: novice, amateur, layman, dilettante, fool