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Glite Dictionary
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penholder

penholder

1 2.9
A container that holds pens on a desk
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛnˌhoʊldər/
translation icon : portalápices

Examples

  • The people that held the pens added their own perspective and all the penholders were men.

    Dogma (1999)

  • She searched through her desk until she found a brown leather penholder filled with various colorful pens.

  • The teacher placed the new wooden penholder on her desk, ready to hold the pens she often used during class.

  • He picked up the plastic penholder from his desk, admiring its sleek design and vibrant colors.

Synonyms

holder
vspenholder
73 1.4

A thing that holds or supports other objects, like a pen stand

is specific to holding pens on a desk rather than any object
pencil case
vspenholder
2 1.0

A small box or bag for keeping pencils, pens, and erasers

is a desk device meant to hold pens rather than be carried
pencil box
vspenholder
  • US
1 1.0

A small box for holding pencils, erasers, and a ruler

is designed to hold pens on a desk rather than store pencils for transport
inkstand
vspenholder
  • Archaic
1 8.4

A small container that holds ink and pens for writing

is mainly for holding pens on a desk rather than storing ink

How Organized

organizer
  • Archaic
15 3.8
pencil case
2 1.0
penholder
1 2.9
caddy
9 5.8
mug
112 1.0

Surface Forms

penholder singular
penholders plural

Morphology

penholder = hold (transparent) = pen + hold + er

The suffix '-er' clearly indicates an agent noun, meaning 'one who holds'.

Etymology

Penholder is simply pen + holder: pen comes from Latin penna meaning 'feather' and later 'writing tool', and holder means 'one that holds'. So a penholder is literally something that 'holds pens' on your desk.