Renovators

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals or groups engaged in improving or updating existing structures or spaces
2. Those who restore or enhance buildings or environments to better conditions
3. Professionals or craftsmen focused on refurbishment and modernization of interior or exterior spaces

Etymology: The plural form "renovators" simply names more than one of those who renovate, so the history belongs to the verb "renovate" and the suffix that turns it into a person noun. "Renovate" comes from the Latin "renovatus," meaning "made new again," built from "re-" (again) and "novus" (new). English took the verb from that Latin past participle, and it has long carried the sense of restoring something to good condition. The ending is the interesting part. The suffix "-or" traces back through Old French "-eor" to Latin "-tor" and "-ator," which formed nouns for the doer of an action. English added it to "renovate" to produce "renovator," a person who carries out renovation. That is why the word reads as a plain agent noun: it is the verb plus a tool-like ending that names whoever does the work.

Synonyms: restorers, rebuilders