-er-

The rhymes in this section have the ‘er’ sound of her and working as their main or final vowel sound.

11.1 blur, br’er, burr, cur, duh, er, err, fir, Fleur, fur, her, Kerr, knur, myrrh, per, purr, shirr, sir, Sir, slur, spur, stir, ’twere, Ur, were, whir, * occur, concur, astir, confer, aver, adieu, monsieur, Pasteur, transfer, chasseur, masseur, coiffeur, voyeur, seigneur, deburr, prie-dieu, milieu, recur, incur, deter, inter, bestir, defer, prefer, refer, infer, demur, longueur, Montreux, auteur, hauteur, chauffeur, poseur, douceur, * transfer, larkspur, cockspur, Hotspur, * saboteur, amateur, shamateur, raconteur, rapporteur, pas de deux, de rigueur, Périgueux, reoccur, cri de coeur, Richelieu, disinter, connoisseur, bon viveur, force majeure, cordon bleu, butterbur, underfur, * restaurateur, entrepreneur, folie à deux, arbitrageur, droit du seigneur, * agent provocateur

11.2 blurb, curb, herb, kerb, Serb, verb, * perturb, disturb, superb, * adverb, EPIRB, proverb, potherb, suburb, * willowherb

The cars and the lorries run over the kerb,

And the villagers put up a notice: road closed –

So that nothing untoward may chance to disturb

Deuteronomy’s rest when he feels so disposed.

T. S. ELIOT

11.3 curbed, * perturbed, disturbed, * unperturbed, undisturbed

11.4 berk, Burke, Chirk, cirque, dirk, Dirk, erk, irk, jerk, kirk, Kirk, lurk, murk, perk, quirk, Quirke, shirk, smirk, stirk, Turk, work, * Dunkirk, de Klerk, McGurk, berserk, rework, * hackwork, handwork, waxwork, patchwork, artwork, part work, craftwork, glasswork, spadework, paintwork, framework, brainwork, casework, lacework, Selkirk, legwork, headwork, fretwork, network, breastwork, guesswork, earthwork, beadwork, fieldwork, teamwork, piecework, brickwork, shiftwork, bridgework, firework, wirework, brightwork, timework, clockwork, Falkirk, Ormskirk, coursework, groundwork, outwork, housework, coachwork, scrollwork, homework, stonework, brushwork, woodwork, footwork, * Atatürk, handiwork, latticework, masterwork, basketwork, paperwork, metalwork, trelliswork, needlework, timberwork, wickerwork, ironwork, donkey work, bodywork, pokerwork, overwork, openwork, * cabinetwork

11.5 circs, irks, jerks, perks, quirks, works, * gasworks, waxworks, glassworks, steelworks, fireworks, wireworks, saltworks, roadworks, * ironworks, waterworks, etc.

11.6 birch, church, lurch, perch, search, smirch, * besmirch, research, * Fenchurch, wordsearch, research, Whitchurch, Christchurch, * silver birch

11.7 bird, blurred, Byrd, curd, erred, furred, gird, heard, herd, Kurd, nerd, purred, sherd, shirred, slurred, spurred, stirred, surd, third, turd, whirred, word, * occurred, concurred, unstirred, conferred, averred, unheard, absurd, Cape Verde, reword, recurred, begird, deferred, referred, preferred, inferred, misheard, * blackbird, catchword, yardbird, password, swearword, jailbird, game bird, cage bird, headword, f-word, sea bird, keyword, firebird, lyrebird, swineherd, byword, songbird, crossword, watchword, potsherd, shore bird, foreword, cowherd, bowerbird, goatherd, codeword, loan word, lovebird, buzz word, bluebird, * afterword, ladybird, word for word, early bird, whirlybird, weaverbird, reoccurred, dickybird, wattlebird, mockingbird, water bird, overheard, undergird, Douglas Hurd, hummingbird, undeterred, * Richard the Third, four-letter word, etc.

And what mortal ever heard

Any good of George the Third?

WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR

11.8 scurf, serf, Smurf, surf, turf, * windsurf, * AstroTurf®

11.9 berg, Berg, erg, * Hamburg, Hapsburg, Strasbourg, Salzburg, Marburg, Carlsberg, Schoenberg, Sternberg, Lindbergh, Strindberg, Pittsburgh, Spielberg, Freiburg, iceberg, homburg, Coburg, Joburg, Newburg, * Brandenburg, Battenburg, Gettysburg, Württemberg, Königsberg, Hindenburg, Heidelberg, Gothenburg, Nuremberg, Luxembourg, Gutenberg, * Johannesburg, Saint Petersburg

11.10 dirge, merge, purge, scourge, serge, Serge, splurge, spurge, surge, urge, verge, * converge, submerge, demerge, emerge, diverge, * upsurge, * dramaturge, demiurge, thaumaturge

11.11 churl, curl, earl, furl, girl, hurl, knurl, Merle, pearl, Pearl, purl, Searle, skirl, swirl, twirl, whirl, whorl, * uncurl, unfurl, * ball girl, call girl, cowgirl, showgirl, schoolgirl

11.12 curled, furled, hurled, knurled, swirled, twirled, whirled, world, * uncurled, unfurled, * afterworld, underworld

Proud Wellington, with eagle beak so curled,

That nose, the hook where he suspends the world!

LORD BYRON

11.13 firm, germ, Herm, perm, sperm, squirm, term, therm, worm, * affirm, confirm, half term, preterm, midterm, infirm, * ragworm, sandworm, flatworm, tapeworm, threadworm, earthworm, wheatgerm, eelworm, mealworm, silkworm, pinworm, ringworm, inchworm, wireworm, blindworm, roundworm, glow-worm, slowworm, lugworm, bookworm, hookworm, woodworm, * pachyderm, endoderm, ectoderm, reaffirm, gymnosperm, isotherm

11.14 permed, squirmed, wormed, * affirmed, confirmed, * unconfirmed, reaffirmed

11.15 Bern, burn, Byrne, CERN, churn, earn, Ern, erne, fern, föhn, girn, kern, Kern, learn, quern, spurn, stern, Sterne, tern, turn, urn, Verne, yearn, * astern, Ahern, Traherne, unlearn, concern, adjourn, relearn, epergne, return, intern, inurn, discern, Sauternes, Auvergne, Jules Verne, lucerne, Lucerne, * Blackburn, pastern, heartburn, Braeburn, Raeburn, Hepburn, lectern, extern, Redfern, windburn, Swinburne, bittern, intern, Tyburn, wyvern, nocturne, sojourn, downturn, Woburn, Cockburn, sunburn, upturn, Crewkerne, U-turn, * Bannockburn, taciturn, three-point turn, Comintern, nonreturn, overturn, unconcern, * pay-as-you-earn

11.16 burned, earned, learned, spurned, turned, yearned, * unburned, upturned, unturned, unlearned, unearned, concerned, adjourned, hard-earned, well-earned, returned, interned, discerned, downturned, * overturned, unconcerned, etc.

11.17 burnt, learnt, weren’t, * unburnt, unlearnt, * sunburnt

11.18 Burns, churns, earns, Ern’s, ferns, learns, turns, urns, yearns, * concerns, returns, * sideburns, etc.

11.19 burp, chirp, slurp, twerp, * usurp, * Antwerp, * Wyatt Earp

11.20 burps, chirps, SERPS, slurps, stirps, turps, * usurps, * Wyatt Earp’s

11.21 burped, chirped, slurped, * usurped, * excerpt

11.22 curse, Erse, hearse, nurse, purse, terse, verse, worse, * asperse, averse, perverse, traverse, adverse, converse, submerse, transverse, disburse, disperse, reverse, inverse, rehearse, immerse, diverse, coerce, * adverse, wet nurse, inverse, obverse, converse, commerce, cutpurse, * reimburse, intersperse, universe

An open foe may prove a curse,

But a pretended friend is worse.

JOHN GAY

11.23 burst, cursed, durst, first, Hearst, Hirst, Hurst, nursed, pursed, thirst, versed, worst, wurst, * accursed, traversed, conversed, submersed, headfirst, well-versed, disbursed, dispersed, reversed, rehearsed, immersed, coerced, * Pankhurst, Sandhurst, knackwurst, bratwurst, starburst, cloudburst, outburst, Dewhurst, * safety first, twenty-first, reimbursed, interspersed, liverwurst, unrehearsed

11.24 Bert, blurt, Burt, cert, curt, dirt, flirt, girt, hurt, Kurt, pert, shirt, skirt, spurt, squirt, wert, wort, * avert, pervert, subvert, advert, convert, unhurt, alert, assert, concert, revert, invert, inert, insert, desert, dessert, exert, divert, obvert, overt, * Frankfurt, advert, ragwort, Blackshirt, hair shirt, expert, sexpert, sweatshirt, pervert, sneezewort, T-shirt, ribwort, milkwort, figwort, stitchwort, insert, nightshirt, convert, outsert, overt, lungwort, woundwort, * malapert, bladderwort, Engelbert, Ethelbert, extrovert, pennywort, reconvert, feverwort, reassert, reinsert, introvert, slipperwort, liverwort, disconcert, inexpert, miniskirt, controvert, overskirt, underskirt, undershirt, * overexert

11.25 Bert’s, flirts, hertz, Hertz, hurts, shirts, skirts, squirts, * adverts, experts, Weltschmerz, T-shirts, converts, outskirts, * extroverts, megahertz, introverts, gigahertz, kilohertz, underskirts, just deserts, etc.

11.26 berth, birth, dearth, earth, firth, girth, mirth, Perth, worth, * unearth, self-worth, rebirth, * Dankworth, Tamworth, Hayworth, Knebworth, Hepworth, Petworth, Emsworth, Letchworth, Wordsworth, stillbirth, childbirth, Bosworth, jobsworth, Wandsworth, Duckworth, Lulworth, Woolworth, * afterbirth, pennyworth, Kenilworth, Middle-earth, Illingworth, Solway Firth, down-to-earth, Butterworth, Shuttleworth

One for sorrow, two for mirth.

Three for a wedding, four for a birth.

TRADITIONAL RHYME

11.27 curve, derv, Merv, nerve, perv, serve, swerve, verve, * unnerve, Deneuve, subserve, conserve, observe, deserve, preserve, reserve, hors d’oeuvre

11.28 curved, served, swerved, * unnerved, conserved, observed, deserved, preserved, reserved, * well-preserved, unobserved, undeserved, unreserved

11.29 blurs, errs, firs, furs, furze, hers, Meuse, purrs, Sirs, spurs, stirs, * occurs, masseuse, chanteuse, coiffeuse, chartreuse, recurs, prefers, * saboteurs, amateurs, secateurs, Betelgeuse, connoisseurs, etc.

12.1 Furby®, Herbie, herby, Kirby, Kirkby, chirpy, jerky, murky, perky, quirky, turkey, Turkey, Fergie, lurgy, birdie, nerdy, Purdy, sturdy, wordy, Thursday, Bertie, dirty, flirty, Gertie, qwerty, shirty, thirty, Kirsty, thirsty, furphy, Murphy, scurfy, surfie, turfy, curvy, nervy, scurvy, Turvey, earthy, worthy, Berlei, Burghley, burly, curly, early, girlie, Hurley, pearly, Shirley, surly, twirly, thirdly, worldly, curtly, firstly, earthly, firmly, Burnley, sternly, tersely, blurry, firry, furry, Vyrnwy, Fermi, wormy, Burney, Ernie, ferny, Gurney, journey, Kearney, Circe, mercy, Percy, Chertsey, curtsy, furzy, jersey, Jersey, kersey, Mersey, Guernsey, Hershey, clergy, * Euterpe, unworthy, superbly, absurdly, unworldly, overtly, unearthly, perversely, adversely, conversely, attorney, * bloodthirsty, airworthy, blameworthy, praiseworthy, seaworthy, Galsworthy, roadworthy, noteworthy, trustworthy, newsworthy, * untrustworthy, * Albuquerque, hurdy-gurdy, vinho verde, olde worlde, topsyturvy, creditworthy, taxidermy, diathermy, arsy-versy, controversy, dramaturgy, metallurgy, hurly-burly, Curly Wurly, otherworldly, etc.

I’m Burlington Bertie, I rise at ten-thirty.

WILLIAM HARGREAVES

12.2 Berber, Thurber, chirper, Sherpa, burka, circa, Gurkha, lurker, shirker, smirker, worker, burger, burgher, birder, Gerda, girder, herder, murder, purdah, Schroeder, curter, Goethe, perter, squirter, surfer, fervour, server, swerver, Bertha, Eartha, further, murther, curler, pearler, purler, twirler, whirler, burglar, gurgler, hurdler, Koestler, stirrer, oeuvre, verdure, Burma, firmer, Irma, Sturmer, murmur, wormer, burner, earner, learner, Lerner, Myrna, Smyrna, sterner, turner, Turner, Verner, Werner, yearner, bursa, cursor, bursar, mercer, Mercer, purser, Ursa, Persia, lurcher, nurture, percher, searcher, merger, perjure, purger, scourger, urger, verger, * usurper, mazurka, Roberta, perverter, subverter, converter, McWhirter, asserter, Alberta, inverter, deserter, observer, Minerva, deserver, preserver, transferor, chef-d’oeuvre, deferrer, referrer, hors d’oeuvre, taverna, returner, precursor, disperser, rehearser, immerser, vice versa, coercer, inertia, researcher, demerger, * networker, tear-jerker, field worker, steelworker, mill worker, outworker, homeworker, woodworker, hamburger, Pressburger, beefburger, cheeseburger, Limburger, frankfurter, windsurfer, timeserver, * metalworker, ironworker, Ethelburga, vegeburger, Luxembourger, terra firma, Annapurna, afterburner, gutta-percha, * hurt her, serve her, etc.

12.3 Turkic, Lerwick, * acerbic, allergic, synergic, lysergic, * hypodermic, taxidermic, metallurgic, * poikilothermic, homoiothermic

12.4 turbid, dirtied, fervid, learned, cursed, curtsied, * perfervid, accursed

12.5 herded, murdered, worded, spurted, squirted, Burford, furthered, earthward, murmured, Bernard, gurnard, nurtured, * averted, perverted, converted, concerted, inverted, inserted, deserted, diverted, * extroverted, introverted, disconcerted, unconverted, etc.

12.6 earthwards, Bernard’s

12.7 Burbage, herbage, wordage

12.8 burble, gerbil, Froebel, herbal, verbal, purple, circle, burgle, Fergal, gurgle, curdle, girdle, hurdle, dirndl, hurtle, kirtle, myrtle, Myrtle, turtle, hurtful, chervil, serval, dermal, thermal, colonel, journal, kernel, sternal, vernal, Hirsel, Persil®, Purcell, tercel, kursaal, Herschel, tertial, Virgil, * nonverbal, encircle, transferral, deferral, referral, fraternal, maternal, paternal, eternal, internal, external, infernal, diurnal, hibernal, nocturnal, succursal, transversal, dispersal, reversal, rehearsal, commercial, inertial, * Bracegirdle, * semicircle, panty girdle, epidermal, geothermal, sempiternal, coeternal, universal, mangelwurzel, infomercial, controversial, noncommercial, * uncontroversial

12.9 burbles, gerbils, Goebbels, circles, hurdles, thermals, * rehearsals, commercials, etc.

12.10 serfdom, earldom, Bertram, Burnham, sternum, irksome, * laburnum, viburnum, nasturtium, * reductio ad absurdum, * heard ’em, learn ’em, etc.

12.11 Turpin, firkin, gherkin, jerkin, Perkin, Irvine, Mervyn, Merlin, Irwin, Gershwin, ermine, Jermyn, vermin, urchin, virgin, * Dick Turpin, Dunfermline, determine, * predetermine, * workin’, learnin’, etc.

12.12 bourbon, Durban, turban, urban, Bergen, Jürgen, burden, guerdon, Burton, certain, curtain, Girton, Merton, Kirsten, earthen, burthen, Kirwan, Burman, german, German, Herman, Hermon, sermon, Sherman, workman, Bergman, Perlman, herdsman, churchman, Vernon, person, worsen, Curzon, Persian, tertian, version, burgeon, Spurgeon, sturgeon, surgeon, * suburban, unburden, disburden, uncertain, Albertan, Macpherson, aspersion, aversion, perversion, subversion, conversion, submersion, assertion, dispersion, recursion, incursion, excursion, Cistercian, reversion, inversion, immersion, insertion, desertion, exertion, diversion, coercion, * Spitsbergen, barperson, chairperson, layperson, salesperson, sportsperson, spokesperson, unperson, * Ardnamurchan, overburden, retroversion, extroversion, self-assertion, reconversion, interspersion, introversion, * animadversion, overexertion

Like the ancient Medes and Persians,

Always by his own exertions

He subsisted on those hills.

EDWARD LEAR

12.13 burdened, curtained, Bertrand, * unburdened, * overburdened, etc.

12.14 serpent, verdant, fervent, servant, Derwent, versant, merchant, Merchant, urgent, * advertent, observant, conferment, deferment, preferment, interment, adjournment, internment, discernment, disbursement, conversant, dispersant, convergent, resurgent, detergent, emergent, insurgent, divergent, * maidservant, manservant, * inadvertent, unobservant, reimbursement

12.15 serpents, servants, merchants, * observance, detergents, convergence, emergence, resurgence, insurgence, insurgents, divergence, * inadvertence, re-emergence, etc.

12.16 curbing, burping, chirping, kerbing, jerking, lurking, shirking, working, erlking, herding, wording, flirting, hurting, shirting, skirting, squirting, bursting, thirsting, surfing, curving, Irving, serving, swerving, berthing, birthing, Worthing, curling, hurling, sterling, Stirling, swirling, whirling, circling, gurgling, hurdling, earthling, nursling, erring, Goering, purring, shirring, stirring, whirring, squirming, Groening, burning, churning, earning, kerning, learning, turning, yearning, cursing, nursing, Pershing, birching, churching, lurching, searching, merging, purging, surging, urging, verging, * perturbing, disturbing, usurping, hard-working, nonworking, converting, deserting, unswerving, unnerving, observing, self-serving, deserving, preserving, unearthing, encircling, occurring, conferring, unerring, recurring, inferring, confirming, concerning, returning, discerning, conversing, dispersing, rehearsing, converging, emerging, * networking, tear-jerking, woodworking, windsurfing, kitesurfing, timeserving, heart-searching, * metalworking, teleworking, disconcerting, undeserving, etc.

Keep the home-fires burning,

While your hearts are yearning.

LENA GUILBERT FORD

12.17 workings, servings, earthlings, purse-strings, earnings, yearnings, etc.

12.18 Curtis, surface, Jervis, Purves, service, surplice, dermis, kermis, furnace, Furness, burgess, Burgess, purchase, * resurface, self-service, disservice, repurchase, * epidermis

12.19 purpose, circus, Fergus, nervous, surplus, workless, wordless, mirthless, worthless, Thermos®, curtness, pertness, firmness, terseness, versus, Tertius, * Lycurgus, alertness, Propertius, * multipurpose, Carrickfergus, * hurt us, curse us, etc.

12.20 curtest, pertest, furthest, firmest, earnest, Ernest, sternest, etc.

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

12.21 surfaced, serviced, * resurfaced, reservist, repurchased, * taxidermist

12.22 furbish, Kurdish, Turkish, dervish, churlish, girlish, skirmish, burnish, furnish, * refurbish

12.23 burnished, furnished, * refurbished, unfurnished

12.24 burbot, Herbert, sherbet, turbot, Urquhart, ergot, Dermot, * alternate

12.25 turnspit, Burkitt, circuit, surfeit, vervet, circlet, hermit, Kermit, permit, Burnett, * short-circuit, interpret, * reinterpret, misinterpret, * work it, turn it, etc.

12.26 Wordsworth, vermouth

12.27 furtive, cursive, * assertive, subversive, discursive, coercive

12.28 herpes, turkeys, birdies, certes, Surtees, thirties, worthies, Hermes, journeys, mercies, Xerxes, * Laertes, etc.

12.29 Burgundy, certainty, verbally, personally, fervently, urgently, earnestly, certainly, purposely, nervously, Burberry®, servery, burglary, mercury, Mercury, wormery, fernery, ternary, turnery, bursary, cursory, mercery, nursery, tertiary, perjury, surgery, purgatory, Germany, fervency, urgency, Bermondsey, perfidy, furmity, chirpily, sturdily, dirtily, worthily, vertically, surgically, perfectly, mercifully, furtively, churlishly, girlishly, circuitry, mercenary, courtesy, virtually, * uncertainty, hyperbole, maternally, paternally, eternally, internally, externally, infernally, nocturnally, impersonally, commercially, alternately, uncertainly, infirmary, quaternary, precursory, conservatory, observatory, confirmatory, diversionary, conservancy, emergency, insurgency, acerbity, absurdity, infirmity, fraternity, maternity, paternity, eternity, modernity, perversity, adversity, diversity, unworthily, deservedly, reservedly, concernedly, accursedly, unmercifully, assertively, unnervingly, unerringly, discourtesy, * universally, controversially, inadvertently, anniversary, microsurgery, neurosurgery, taciturnity, university, undeservedly, unreservedly, unconcernedly, disconcertingly, * counterinsurgency, biodiversity, etc.

12.30 pergola, Berbera, gerbera, murderer, murmurer, nurturer, perjurer, surfacer, purchaser, curvature, nervature, worshipper, Guernica, Perdita, servitor, vertebra, Wurlitzer®, furnisher, furniture, circular, Ursula, * conservator, hyperbola, interpreter, determiner, tubercular, * semicircular

12.31 Serbia, chirpier, murkier, perkier, quirkier, sturdier, dirtier, thirstier, worthier, curlier, earlier, surlier, Hermia, hernia, vernier, Mercia, * suburbia, Calpurnia, Hibernia, inertia, * hyperthermia, hypothermia, etc.

12.32 workable, learnable, searchable, personal, vertical, cervical, versicle, surgical, merciful, worshipful, Percival, vertebral, germinal, terminal, virginal, virtual, * unworkable, convertible, observable, transferable, returnable, discernible, submersible, reversible, puerperal, impersonal, adverbial, proverbial, liturgical, unmerciful, * imperturbable, controvertible, indiscernible, nonreturnable, irreversible, intervertebral, interpersonal, metallurgical, * incontrovertible, entrepreneurial

12.33 Pergamum, burdensome, erbium, terbium, Birmingham, * ytterbium, operculum

12.34 Turkoman, Pergamon, Ferguson, Serbian, Permian, Surbiton, Workington, Worthington, Burlington, journeyman, clergyman, Murchison, * Gilbertian, quaternion, Saturnian, Melburnian, Hibernian, Copernican

12.35 termagant, firmament, permanent, pertinent, turbulent, * reverberant, impermanent, subservient, advertisement, refurbishment, appurtenant, impertinent, determinant, * antiperspirant

12.36 furtherance, permanence, pertinence, turbulence, * impermanence, subservience, advertisements, appurtenance, impertinence, etc.

12.37 purposeless, Cerberus, murderess, murderous, hurtfulness, nervousness, worthlessness, courteous, pervious, Perseus, merciless, murkiness, sturdiness, dirtiness, worthiness, earliness, terminus, verminous, earnestness, virtuous, * discourteous, impervious, Copernicus, assertiveness, superfluous, tuberculous, * airworthiness, seaworthiness, roadworthiness, etc.

12.38 herbalist, journalist, * determinist

12.39 chirpiest, murkiest, perkiest, quirkiest, sturdiest, dirtiest, thirstiest, worthiest, curliest, earliest, surliest, etc.

12.40 perforate, vertebrate, * imperforate, invertebrate, determinate, * indeterminate

12.41 merchantable, personable, permeable, terminable, serviceable, * impermeable, determinable, interminable, unserviceable, * semipermeable, indeterminable