recounter

Recounter is a noun that denotes a person who recounts or tells in detail events or stories. It is formed from the verb recount with the agent-noun suffix -er, and may be used in historical or literary contexts to describe someone who narrates a sequence of events. Because recount as a common noun for the act of telling is widespread, recounter is relatively rare in contemporary writing and can come across as stylistic or archaic.

In modern usage, recounter is often replaced by more common terms such as narrator, storyteller, or reteller. It may appear in discussions of oral history, testimony, or literary analysis when a distinction is drawn between the act of recounting and the person performing it. For example, "The recounter of the tale held the audience's attention" would more naturally read as "The narrator of the tale..." The choice can affect tone, with recounter carrying a somewhat formal or old-fashioned connotation.

Usage notes: avoid ambiguity with recount as a noun or verb; clarifying context helps. The term is primarily of historical or stylistic interest and is rarely required in neutral, contemporary prose. Writers choosing recounter should consider whether a more common synonym better serves clarity and flow.

See also: recount, narrator, storyteller, reteller.