bearer

bear +‎ -er

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛəɹə(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -ɛəɹə(ɹ)

bearer (plural bearers)

1. One who, or that which, bears, sustains, or carries.
   • 1611, King James Version of the Bible, 2 Chronicles 2.18,

     And he [Solomon] set threescore and ten thousand of them [the foreigners living in Israel] to be bearers of burdens,

   • 1676, John Dryden, Aureng-Zebe, London: Henry Herringman, Act II, p. 29,

     Forgive the Bearer of unhappy news:

     Your alter’d Father openly pursues

     Your ruine;

   • 1855, Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom, Chapter 20,

     The slightest manifestation of sympathy or justice toward a person of color, was denounced as abolitionism; and the name of abolitionist, subjected its bearer to frightful liabilities.

2. Someone who helps carry the coffin or a dead body during a funeral procession.

   Synonym: pallbearer

   • 1645, John Milton, “Another on the same” in Poems of Mr. John Milton, both English and Latin, London: Humphrey Moseley, p. 29,

     Nay, quoth he, on his swooning bed outstretch’d,

     If I may not carry, sure Ile ne’re be fetch’d,

     But vow though the cross Doctors all stood hearers,

     For one Carrier put down to make six bearers.

   • 1839, Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, Chapter 5,

     […] the bare coffin having been screwed down, was hoisted on the shoulders of the bearers, and carried into the street.

   • 1934, Dorothy L. Sayers, The Nine Tailors, London: Victor Gollancz, 1975, “A Full Peal of Grandsire Triples”, Part 3,

     The deep shadows of the porch swallowed up priest, corpse and bearers […]

3. One who possesses a cheque, bond, or other notes promising payment.

   I promise to pay the bearer on demand.

4. (India, dated) A domestic servant or palanquin carrier.
   • 1888, Rudyard Kipling, ‘Watches of the Night’, Plain Tales from the Hills, Folio 2005, p. 60:

     The bar of the watch-guard worked through the buttonhole, and the watch—Platte's watch—slid quietly on to the carpet; where the bearer found it next morning and kept it.

5. A tree or plant yielding fruit.

   a good bearer

   • 1791, William Gilpin, Remarks on Forest Scenery: and Other Woodland Views, London: R. Blamire, Volume 1, Book 1, Section 6, p. 149,

     In the common mode of pruning, this species of vine is no great bearer; but managed as it is here, it produces wonderfully.

6. (dated) Someone who delivers a letter or message on behalf of another (especially as referred to in the letter or message).
   • c. 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act V, Scene 2,

     […] Wilt thou know

     Th’ effect of what I wrote? […]

     An earnest conjuration from the King,

     As England was his faithful tributary, […]

     That, on the view and knowing of these contents,

     Without debatement further, more or less,

     He should the bearers put to sudden death,

   • 1784, Samuel Johnson, letter cited in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, London: Charles Dilly, Volume 2, p. 487,

     Sir, The bearer is my godson, whom I take the liberty of recommending to your kindness […]

   • 1829, Walter Scott, Introduction to Rob Roy,

     P. S.—If you’d send your pipes by the bearer […] I would put them in order, and play some melancholy tunes,

   • 1887, Thomas Hardy, The Woodlanders, Chapter 13,

     The message was brought, and Winterborne sent the bearer back to say that he begged the lady’s pardon, but that he could not do as she requested;

   • 1904, Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, Chapter 25,

     […] he gave him a note to Mr. Harmon, one of the head managers of Durham’s—

     “The bearer, Jurgis Rudkus, is a particular friend of mine, and I would like you to find him a good place […]

7. (printing) A strip of reglet or other furniture to bear off the impression from a blank page.
8. (printing) A type or type-high piece of metal interspersed in blank parts to support the plate when it is shaved.

• rebear

beārer

1. first-person singular imperfect passive subjunctive of beō