Gossiper

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who habitually shares private information or gossip about others, often in a manner that may be seen as idle or mischievous
2. A person who frequently relays stories or rumors concerning the lives of others, typically with a tone of informality or intrigue
3. A person known for delighting in the act of disseminating rumors or private information about others, often with a sense of amusement or curiosity

Etymology: "Gossiper" is simply "gossip" with the agent suffix "-er" attached. The suffix came into English through Middle English "-ere" from Old English "-ere," and it ultimately traces back through Old French "-ier" to Latin "-arius," a suffix meaning one who is connected with or performs a particular activity. The "-er" ending on English nouns for people, such as "baker" or "writer," works the same way. The base word, "gossip," is the more interesting part of the story. It began as a noun for a godparent, a sense that survives in the word's older meanings, and only later came to describe idle talk and the person who engages in it. "Gossiper" therefore names someone who does what a gossip does, spreading talk and rumor from one person to the next. Because "gossiper" is formed transparently from an existing word, its history is essentially that of its two parts: the familiar "-er" suffix, and the older English noun "gossip" that shifted from a friendly companion to a spreader of rumors.

Synonyms: tattler, scooper

Antonyms: secret-keeper