-ar¹

variant of the adjective-forming suffix -al¹ , joined to words in which an l precedes the suffix: circular; lunar; singular .

Origin

< Latin -āris; replacing Middle English -er < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin -āris

-ar²

variant of -er² , often under the influence of a spelling with -ar- in a cognate Latin noun:

burglar; cellar; collar; mortar; poplar; scholar; vicar; vinegar.

-ar³

variant of -er^1. on the model of -ar² , used in the formation of nouns of agency: liar; beggar .

British Dictionary definitions for -ar

-ar

suffix

of; belonging to; like: linear, polar, minuscular

Word Origin

via Old French -er from Latin -āris, replacing -ālis (-al1) after stems ending in l

Word Origin and History for -ar

word-formation element meaning "pertaining to, of the nature of," from Latin -arem, -aris "of the kind of, belonging to," a secondary form of -alis, dissimilated for used after syllables with an -l- (e.g. insularis for *insulalis, stellaris for *stellalis).