-an

(Latin: a suffix indicating a person who specializes in something)



herbarian
One skilled in the knowledge of herbs, a herbalist.
librarian
1. Someone who works in or is in charge of a library.
2. The keeper or custodian of a library.

Literally, "of books". Also, "a scribe or someone who is concerned with books".

logician
mercenarian
1. Of or belonging to mercenary soldiers.
2. Someone who works or serves only for personal profit or who is motivated solely by a desire for money.
pedestrian
1. On foot, going or walking on foot; performed on foot; of or pertaining to walking.
2. Representing a person on foot, as distinguished from equestrian.
3. Applied to plain prose as opposed to verse, or to verse of prosaic character; hence, prosaic, commonplace, dull, uninspired; colloquial, vulgar.
pyrotechnian
A producer of, or someone who presents, fireworks.
veterinarian
1. Someone who is skilled in, or professionally occupied with, the medical and surgical treatment of cattle and domestic animals; a veterinary surgeon.
2. A reference to a doctor who treats animals.
3. Etymology: from 1646, formed in English (perhaps by influence of French veterinaire) from Latin veterinarius, "of or having to do with beasts of burden"; also, "cattle doctor", from veterinum, "beast of burden", maybe from vetus,"old"; possibly from the notion of being "experienced", or being "one year old"; hence, strong enough to pull burdens.

Another theory connects it to Latin, vehere "to draw, to pull", based on the notion of "used as a draft animal".

A sign seen in a veterinarian’s office:
The doctor is in. Sit! Stay!
—Paul Harvey, radio broadcast, December 2, 1996.

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