back-formation
See also: backformation and back formation
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Coined by James Murray; back + formation
Noun
back-formation (plural back-formations)
- (uncountable, linguistics) The process by which a new word is formed by removing a morpheme (real or perceived) of an older word, such as the verb burgle, formed by removing -ar (perceived as a suffix forming an agent noun) from burglar.
- (countable) A word created in this way.
- Back-formations, such as "tambour" (for "play the tambourine"), are a staple of comedic wordplay.
Synonyms
- (a word created by back-formation): back-form
Derived terms
Translations
linguistic process
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word formed by this linguistic process
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See also
- Category:Back-formations by language
- Category:English back-formations
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