bearer

[bair-er]

noun

1. a person or thing that carries, upholds, or brings.

   The postman was the bearer of wonderful news today.

   It's not fair to you to be the only bearer of the household cares.

2. the person who presents an order for money or goods.

   Pay to the bearer.

3. a tree or plant that yields fruit or flowers.

4. the holder of rank or office; incumbent.

5. pallbearer.

6. a boy or man employed as a personal or household servant, especially in a colonial household in India.

   There were dozens of bearers on the safari.

7. Printing.

   1. furniture.

   2. one of several strips of metal fitted at the sides of a plate for support during inking and proving.

8. a joistlike member supporting the floorboards of a scaffold.

9. Furniture.,  bearing rail.

bearer

/ ˈbɛərə /

noun

1. a person or thing that bears, presents, or upholds

2. a person who presents a note or bill for payment

3. 1. a native carrier, esp on an expedition

   2. a native servant

4. See pallbearer

5. the holder of a rank, position, office, etc

6. (modifier) finance payable to the person in possession

   bearer bonds

Word History and Origins

Origin of bearer¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; bear ¹, + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

"I wasn't the bearer of my fruit, but I made all those changes and took the gamble of taking an enthusiastic squad that was playing outstanding rugby."

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Yesterday’s countesses lacked those freedoms and were bound to serve as propriety’s standard bearers.

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Then again, how can there be with such a mendacious, felonious, libertine as their standard bearer?

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"We decided pretty much straight away that he was going to be our ring bearer," Brad says.

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Bill Moyers, a soft-spoken former White House aide turned journalist who became a standard bearer of quality in TV news, died Thursday in New York.

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