Loaner

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈloʊnɚ/

Definitions

1. A person or organization that temporarily provides goods or money to someone else, expecting the return of the items or repayment within a certain timeframe
2. An entity that grants the use of items or financial resources for limited periods, often with the stipulation of their return or repayment
3. A provider who lets someone use their property or funds for a specified time, usually with the expectation of getting them back later

Etymology: "Loaner" is a straightforward formation: the noun "loan" combined with the agent suffix "-er," which means "one who does the action." A loaner is therefore one who loans, and the pattern is the same as in "lender," "borrower," or "teacher" built on "teach." The suffix itself has a long pedigree. It descends from Latin "-arius," which denoted a person connected with a task or trade, and it reached English through two routes: Old English "-ere," and later Old French "-ier," which Middle English adopted as "-er." Both paths converged, so English speakers have been attaching this ending to verbs and nouns for centuries. The base word "loan" is the more interesting half of the story, since it came into English from Old Norse "lán" and carries the sense of something lent out on trust. "Loaner" itself is a later formation, used mainly in American English for things like a car or a laptop lent out in place of one being repaired.

Synonyms: lender, giver, provider, donor, creditor

Antonyms: borrower, taker, recipient, debtor, receiver