back-formation

  1. Noun.  (context, uncountable) 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''.
  2. Noun.  (context, countable) A word created in this way.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.