English-French translations for back-formation
Definition of back-formation
- The process by which a new word is formed from an older word by interpreting the former as a derivative of the latter, often by removing a morpheme from the older word, such as the verb ''burgle'', formed by removing ''-ar' from ''burglar''
Examples
- Back-formations, such as "tambour" (for "play the tambourine"), are a staple of comedic wordplay.
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