NOUN
- a word invented (usually unwittingly by subtracting an affix) on the assumption that a familiar word derives from it
How To Use back-formation In A Sentence
- The suffix -nomics is a back-formation from "economics," from a Greek word meaning "household management. Week in Words
- This is the reverse of "oblige" vs "obligate", where British English only uses the former, while American English uses the latter back-formation for "compel" and the former for "do a favour for". On being orient(at)ed
- Rattler for rattle-snake, pike for turnpike, draw for drawbridge, coon for raccoon, possum for opossum, cuss for customer, cute for acute, squash for askutasquashthese American back-formations are already antique; Sabbaday for Sabbath-day has actually reached the dignity of an archaism, as has the far later chromo for chromolithograph. Chapter 6. Tendencies in American. 3. Processes of Word-Formation
- The OED and Merriam-Webster list that play on a word as a back-formation from disgruntle, and the word gruntle is born again—meaning “to put in a good humor.” No Uncertain Terms
- Sundry creative back-formations, new words built from elements of preexisting ones, have been made from the word bikini. The English Is Coming!
- Other back-formations, such as enthuse and liaise, inhabit a grey area of acceptability. April « 2009 « Sentence first
- Back-formations are frequently made by dropping - tion or - ion from a noun, and adding - e when appropriate, to form a new verb, such as donate from donation. Back-forming back-formations
- The Merriam-Webster Online states that "liaise" is an example of a "back-formation," through which a new word is extracted from another, perfectly legitimate word on the assumption that it must exist, etymologically, although it does not. Yankee Pot Roast
- When I wrote that back-formation was “essentially [affixation] in reverse”, I was simplifying matters somewhat. Back-forming back-formations
- Perhaps a back-formation from twankay. Times, Sunday Times
