stationer

stationer
\ \ [15] In medieval Latin a statiōnārius was originally a ‘trader who kept a permanent stall’ (as opposed to an itinerant seller). The word was derived from Latin statiō ‘standing, keeping still’ (source of English station), which in the post-classical meaning evolved in meaning to ‘shop’. Such permanent shops were comparatively rare in the Middle Ages. Of those that did exist, the commonest were bookshops, licensed by the universities, and so when English adopted the Latin term, it was used in the sense ‘bookseller’. It has since come down in the world somewhat to ‘seller of paper, pens, etc’ (a sense first recorded in the mid 17th century), but the earlier application is preserved in the name of the Stationers’ Company, a London livery company to which booksellers and publishers belong. The derivative stationery dates from the 18th century.
\ \ Cf.⇒ STATION

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • stationer — sta‧tion‧er [ˈsteɪʆnə ǁ ər] also stationer s noun [countable] COMMERCE a shop where stationery is sold * * * stationer UK US /ˈsteɪʃənər/ noun [C] (UK ► COMMERCE a store that sells stationery …   Financial and business terms

  • Stationer — Sta tion*er ( [ e]r), n. [Cf. {Stationary}, a.] 1. A bookseller or publisher; formerly so called from his occupying a stand, or station, in the market place or elsewhere. [Obs.] Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. One who sells paper, pens, quills,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stationer — bookdealer, seller of books and paper, early 14c. (late 13c. as a surname), from M.L. stationarius stationary seller, from L. stationem (nom. statio) station (see STATION (Cf. station)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • stationer — ► NOUN ▪ a seller of stationery. ORIGIN Latin stationarius tradesman at a fixed location …   English terms dictionary

  • stationer — [stā′shə nər] n. [ME stacionere < ML stationarius, tradesman with a fixed station or shop (by contrast with a peddler) < L, STATIONARY] 1. Obs. a bookseller or publisher 2. a person who sells office supplies, greeting cards, some books, etc …   English World dictionary

  • stationer — UK [ˈsteɪʃ(ə)nə(r)] / US [ˈsteɪʃ(ə)nər] noun [countable] Word forms stationer : singular stationer plural stationers 1) someone whose job is to sell stationery 2) stationer or stationer s British a shop that sells stationery …   English dictionary

  • stationer — sta|tion|er [ steıʃnər ] noun count 1. ) someone whose job is to sell stationery 2. ) stationer or stationer s BRITISH a store that sells stationery …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • stationer — noun Etymology: Middle English staciouner, from Anglo French stationer, from Medieval Latin stationarius, from station , statio market stall, from Latin, station Date: 14th century 1. archaic a. bookseller b. publisher 2. one that sells… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • stationer's — noun A shop that sells stationery See Also: stationer …   Wiktionary

  • stationer — sta|tion|er [ˈsteıʃənə US ər] n BrE [Date: 1300 1400; : Medieval Latin; Origin: stationarius bookseller , from statio shop , from Latin; STATION1] 1.) stationer s a shop that sells stationery 2.) someone in charge of a shop that sells stationery …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • stationer — [[t]ste͟ɪʃənə(r)[/t]] stationers N COUNT A stationer is a person who sells paper, envelopes, pens, and other equipment used for writing …   English dictionary

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