BACK FORMATION
Back-formation is a linguistic process that involves creating a new word by removing a prefix or suffix from an existing word. Here are some examples of back-formation in the English language:
- Edit: From the word "editor", with the suffix "-or" being removed
- Burgle: From the word "burglar"
- Televise: From the word "television"
- Choreograph: From the word "choreography"
- Cohabitate: From the word "cohabitation"
- Vaccinate: From the word "vaccination"
- Resurrect: From the word "resurrection"
- Diagnose: From the word "diagnosis"
- Enthuse: From the word "enthusiasm"
- Surveil: From the word "surveillance"
- Bicep: From the Latin word "biceps"
- beg: From beggar
Back-formation is a popular way to create new words in both formal writing and informal speech. The new words created through back-formation are called neologisms.
