核心畫面

Picture whatever is standing on the healing side: something is hurt, and something else is closing it up. The ending -er just names that second thing. Usually it is a person with a pair of hands. But the ending does not insist on a person, and English lets a thing stand in the same place - time, rest, music - as though it were quietly doing the same work.

可以想成傷口的另一邊站著誰。有一個地方受傷了,然後有東西把它收起來。-er 這個字尾要指的,就是站在那一邊的角色。多更多收起可以想成傷口的另一邊站著誰。有一個地方受傷了,然後有東西把它收起來。-er 這個字尾要指的,就是站在那一邊的角色。多半是一個人,一雙手。不過 -er 並沒有規定一定要是人。所以英文也讓一件事情站到同一個位置上——時間、休息、音樂——好像它也在默默做同一件事。

From the word’s history

From Middle English helere, the agent noun of heal: heal + -er, 'the one that heals'.

healer 由 heal(治好)加上 -er 組成,中古英文寫作 helere,就是「把人治好的那一個」。因為 -er 既可以指人也可以指東西,這個字後來能同時走人和物兩條路。

Wiktionary entry for 'healer' (packet field etymology_text): From Middle English helere, the agent noun of heal; analysed as heal + -er.

One branch

站在傷口另一邊的那一個

兩個意思共用同一個位置:傷在這邊,healer 在那一邊。差別只在站上去的是人還是事。

noun · B2

Someone who people believe can make sick people well again by using a natural or spiritual power, rather than by giving them medicine from a doctor.

療癒者;治病的人