stationer
/'steiʃnə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A stationer is a person or business that sells writing materials, paper, envelopes, and other office or school supplies.
Usage
The word "stationer" refers specifically to a retailer or merchant in this trade. It is a formal term for a shop or person selling these goods. - You can buy notepads and pens from a stationer. - The local stationer also offers printing services.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- The term's origin: The word "stationer" historically comes from the Medieval Latin '', meaning a bookseller or publisher who had a fixed station or shop, as opposed to itinerant sellers.
- As a descriptor: The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) in phrases such as "stationer's shop" or "stationer's items," though "stationery store" is more common in modern usage.
Variants and Related Words
- Stationery (noun): The collective term for the materials sold by a stationer, such as paper, pens, envelopes, and other writing equipment.
- She selected beautiful stationery for her thank-you notes.
Synonyms
- Writing materials supplier
- Office supplies dealer
- Paper merchant (though this can be more specific to wholesale paper)
Notes on Meaning
- Primary Meaning: A seller of writing and office materials.
- Contextual Meaning: In historical contexts, a "stationer" could also refer to a bookseller or a publisher. However, in contemporary English, the meaning is almost exclusively tied to selling paper goods and writing implements. The word is not typically used for large office supply chain stores in casual speech, where "office supply store" is more common.
Noun
- a merchant who sells writing materials and office supplies