51Թ

Advertisement

Advertisement

back formation

noun

Linguistics.

  1. the analogical creation of one word from another word that appears to be a derived or inflected form of the first by dropping the apparent affix or by modification.

  2. a word so formed, as typewrite from typewriter.

back formation

noun

  1. the invention of a new word on the assumption that a familiar word is derived from it. The verbs edit and burgle were so created from editor and burglar

  2. a word formed by this process

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of back formation1

First recorded in 1885–90

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

back footback forty

Browse

  • #
  • aa
  • bb
  • cc
  • dd
  • ee
  • ff
  • gg
  • hh
  • ii
  • jj
  • kk
  • ll
  • mm
  • nn
  • oo
  • pp
  • qq
  • rr
  • ss
  • tt
  • uu
  • vv
  • ww
  • xx
  • yy
  • zz