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ring·er²

(rĭngər)

1. One that rings, especially one that sounds a bell or chime.

2. Slang

a. A contestant entered dishonestly into a competition.

b. A person with a special skill who is not affiliated with a group but is recruited to assist temporarily with a specific task.

3. Slang See dead ringer.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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