-ister,† -istresuffix repr.OF.-istre, a by-form of -iste, -ist, considered by French etymologists to have arisen through false analogy with words like ministre. Found in OF. at an early date, as in evangelistre (12–13th c. in Godef.Compl.), beside evangeliste; so choristre, decretistre, legistre, listre or litre (reader), etc. From OF., these forms passed into English, where they were spelt first -istre, as in alkamystre, decretistre, divinistre, legistre, listre, queristre; afterwards -ister, as in alchimister, chorister, palmister, sophister. In this latter form, the -er was app. associated with the native suffix -er, which appears as an addition in many nouns denoting office or occupation, derived from or through Fr., as astrologer, astronomer, geographer, parishioner, practitioner, †musicianer, etc.