-
Definiton
the explanation or description of what a thing is, or what a word/phrase means/has meant.
-
Etymology
Origin and analysis of a word as shown by breaking it down into its constituent historical elements. "the study of the true/real meaning of a word"
-
Affix
collective term for prefixes, suffixes, and infixes.
-
Root/Base
the central element of a word which is left after the removal of all affixes.
-
Prefix
one or more letters or syllables placed at the beginning of a word to modify it meaning.
-
Assimilation
process by which adjacent sounds (usually consonants) acquire similar/identical characteristics.
-
Euphony
tendency toward greater ease of pronunciation resulting in combinative changes, largely due to speed and economy of utterance.
-
Vowel Gradation
a change in the internal vowel of a base, often went he base is prefixed.
-
Acronym
an abbreviation that spells a word or pronounceable unit.
-
Back Formation
the creation of simpler forms from more complex forms, usually by the removal of an affix.
-
Apheresis
The elimination of the first letter or syllable of a word.
- -aphesis (loss of the first syllable of a word)
- -syncope (loss of syllabel in the middle of a word)
- -Apocope (loss of a syllable at the end of a word)
-
Cognate
a word having the same linguistic derivation as another; from the same original word/root
-
Derivative
process of forming a new word from an existing word.
-
Doublets
a Latin base has entered English twice; once from Latin and once from French
|
|
