In etymology, the process of back-formation is the creation of a neologism by reinterpreting an earlier word as a compound and removing the affixes, or more generally, by trying to reconstruct an original form from any kind of derived form (including abbreviations or inflected forms). The resulting new word is also called a back-formation. The simplest case is when a longer form of a word pair predates what would usually be the basic form. For example, the noun resurrection was borrowed from Latin, and the verb Including:

• Back-formation - More examples of back-formation

Read more here: » Back-formation: Encyclopedia - Back-formation

See also:

Retronym, Retronym - Examples, Retronym - Retronymic adjectives

Read more here: » Retronym: Encyclopedia II - Retronym - Examples

Definition and meaning of retronym:

retronym - a word or phrase created because an existing term that was once used alone needs to be distinguished from a term referring to a new development; a modification of an existing word occasioned by a discovery or a new concept; as Atlantic herring in contrast to Pacific herring, acoustic guitar in contrast to electric guitar or analog watch in contrast to digital watch

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

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A backronym or bacronym is a type of acronym that is constructed to match the letters of an actual word appropriate in some fashion to the topic at hand. The word "backronym" is a portmanteau (fusion) of back and acronym and was coined in 1983. An acronym is a word created from the initial letters of a phrase: RAdio Detection And Ranging becomes radar. Note that an acronym is an actual word -- anything that has not actua ...

Including:

• Backronym - Humorous

Read more here: » Backronym: Encyclopedia - Backronym

An acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the Classical guitar, but generally strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound. Much heavier construction is required to withstand the added tension. Sometimes the term steel-stringed guitar or folk guitar is used to differentiate from the classical guitar. The term "acoustic guitar" is a retronym, since before the invention of the electric inst ...

Read more here: » Acoustic guitar: Encyclopedia - Acoustic guitar

A neologism is a word, term, or phrase which has been recently created ("coined") —often to apply to new concepts, or to reshape older terms in newer language form. Neologisms are especially useful in identifying inventions, new phenomena, or old ideas which have taken on a new cultural context. Neologisms are by definition "new," and as such are often directly attributable to a specific individual, publication, period or event. The term "neologism" was itself coined around 1800; so for some time in the early 19th Century, th ...

Including:

• Neologism - Changing culture
• Neologism - Cultural acceptance
• Neologism - Versions of neologisms
• Neologism - Types of neologism
• Neologism - Neologisms in literature
• Neologism - Quotation
• Neologism - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Neologism: Encyclopedia - Neologism

A pure backronym occurs when a sequence of letters is commonly understood to stand for a phrase that in fact had no role in its original conception. An example is SOS, the international distress signal that was chosen solely for its easy recognizability in Morse code, but which is often thought to stand for "save our ship", "save our souls" or something similar. An older distress signal, CQD, also has a backronym: "come quick, distress (or danger)." Another example is the word "wiki", from the Hawaiian word meaning quick. Since its application to consumer generated media, some have suggested ...

See also:

Backronym, Backronym - Details, Backronym - Types

Read more here: » Backronym: Encyclopedia II - Backronym - Types

Neologisms tend to occur more often in cultures which are rapidly changing, and also in situations where there is easy and fast propagation of information. They are often created by combining existing words (see compound noun and adjective) or by giving words new and unique suffixes or prefixes. Those which are portmanteaux are shortened. Neologisms can also be created through abbreviation or acronym, by intentionally rhyming with existing ...

See also:

Neologism, Neologism - Changing culture, Neologism - Cultural acceptance, Neologism - Versions of neologisms, Neologism - Types of neologism, Neologism - Neologisms in literature, Neologism - Quotation, Neologism - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Neologism: Encyclopedia II - Neologism - Changing culture

After being coined, neologisms invariably undergo scrutiny by the public and by linguists to determine their suitability to the language. Many are accepted very quickly; others attract opposition. Language experts sometimes object to a neologism on the grounds that a suitable term for the thing described already exists in the language. Non-experts who dislike the neologism sometimes also use this argument, deriding the ne ...

See also:

Neologism, Neologism - Changing culture, Neologism - Cultural acceptance, Neologism - Versions of neologisms, Neologism - Types of neologism, Neologism - Neologisms in literature, Neologism - Quotation, Neologism - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Neologism: Encyclopedia II - Neologism - Cultural acceptance

Many neologisms have come from popular literature, and tend to appear in different forms. Most commonly, they are simply taken from a word used in the narrative of a book; for instance, McJob from Douglas Coupland's Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture and cyberspace from William Gibson's Neuromancer. Sometimes the title of the book will become the neologism. For instance, Catch-22 (from the title of Joseph Heller's novel) and Generation X (from the title of Coupland's novel) have become part of the vocabulary ...

See also:

Neologism, Neologism - Changing culture, Neologism - Cultural acceptance, Neologism - Versions of neologisms, Neologism - Types of neologism, Neologism - Neologisms in literature, Neologism - Quotation, Neologism - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Neologism: Encyclopedia II - Neologism - Neologisms in literature

List of backronyms - Audio and video. Akai - Another Kaput Audio Invention Bose - Buy Other Sound Equipment Koss - K-tel's Obsolete Sound System, Keep Ordering Spare Speakers Lear - Lousy Eighttrack Audio Recordings Sony - Seems Obsolete Next Year, Soon – Only Not Yet, Send Over Nippon Yen Teac - Tapes Eaten And Chewed Lotus - (Cars) Loads OF Trouble Usually Serious Westinghouse - We're Evil, So Tem ...

See also:

List of backronyms, List of backronyms - Reverse etymology, List of backronyms - False etymology, List of backronyms - Backronyms as mnemonics, List of backronyms - Backronyms as slogans, List of backronyms - Backronyms as political statements, List of backronyms - Euphemisms, List of backronyms - Backronyms in language translation, List of backronyms - Backronyms as Humor, List of backronyms - Audio and video, List of backronyms - Automotive, List of backronyms - Aviation, List of backronyms - Broadcasters and networks, List of backronyms - Computing and telecommunications, List of backronyms - Education, List of backronyms - Entertainment, List of backronyms - Manufacturing and commerce, List of backronyms - Military and police, List of backronyms - Other, List of backronyms - People, List of backronyms - Politics, List of backronyms - Ranks of the Order of St Michael and St George, List of backronyms - Retail, List of backronyms - Science

Read more here: » List of backronyms: Encyclopedia II - List of backronyms - Backronyms as Humor

The Fraternity is a retronym used now to distinguish the all-male Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity (aka the Alpha Delta Phi International) from the co-ed Alpha Delta Phi Society. In general parlance, the Fraternity refers to itself simply as "Alpha Delta Phi", since the Society adds "Society" to the end to distinguish itself. Alpha Delta Phi - Chapters. As of 2005 the Fraternity has 23 chapters and 3 affiliates, the oldest chapter at Hamilton College and the most recent affiliate at York College of Pennsylania.< ...

See also:

Alpha Delta Phi, Alpha Delta Phi - The Fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi - Chapters, Alpha Delta Phi - The Society, Alpha Delta Phi - Chapters, Alpha Delta Phi - Notable Alumni, Alpha Delta Phi - Government, Alpha Delta Phi - Business and Industry, Alpha Delta Phi - Education, Alpha Delta Phi - Athletics, Alpha Delta Phi - Entertainment, Alpha Delta Phi - Military and NASA, Alpha Delta Phi - Philanthropic Literary and Religious

Read more here: » Alpha Delta Phi: Encyclopedia II - Alpha Delta Phi - The Fraternity

Because paper-and-pencil RPGs came first in the US, it was the computer RPGs that were given the abbreviation CRPG. In Japan, however, the computerized ones first gained popularity, so RPG (in the Latin alphabet) is used for them alone, while the paper-and-pencil versions have been cited under the retronym PRPG. Occasionally a distinction is made between console RPGs and those played on the personal computer, which can have more game saves and employ more command keys, but which do not have as high a resale value. The abbreviation CRP ...

See also:

Computer role-playing game, Computer role-playing game - Overview, Computer role-playing game - Character development, Computer role-playing game - Setting genres, Computer role-playing game - Layout, Computer role-playing game - Combat sequencing, Computer role-playing game - History, Computer role-playing game - Modern games, Computer role-playing game - Cultural differences, Computer role-playing game - Japanese and East Asian, Computer role-playing game - American and other Western, Computer role-playing game - Comparison, Computer role-playing game - Shared characteristics, Computer role-playing game - CRPGs' relationship to PnP RPGs, Computer role-playing game - Variant terminology, Computer role-playing game - Chronology of CRPGs, Computer role-playing game - Chronology of computer RPGs, Computer role-playing game - Chronology of console RPGs, Computer role-playing game - List of companies, Computer role-playing game - Related genres

Read more here: » Computer role-playing game: Encyclopedia II - Computer role-playing game - Variant terminology

Because pencil and paper RPGs were known first in the U.S.A. (CRPGs were derived from them), computer RPGs were later given the abbreviation CRPG as they increased in popularity to avoid confusing them. In Japan, however, video game RPGs became widely popular first, so the term "RPG" (in the Latin alphabet) is used for them primarily, while the PnP versions have been cited under the retronym "PRPG". Occasionally, a distinction is made between console RPGs and those played on a personal computer (PC). In these cases, the abbreviation " ...

See also:

Computer role-playing game, Computer role-playing game - Overview, Computer role-playing game - Character development, Computer role-playing game - Setting and genres, Computer role-playing game - Navigation, Computer role-playing game - Encounters and combat, Computer role-playing game - History, Computer role-playing game - Modern games, Computer role-playing game - Cultural differences, Computer role-playing game - Japanese and East Asian, Computer role-playing game - American and other Western, Computer role-playing game - Comparisons, Computer role-playing game - Criticisms, Computer role-playing game - Variant terminology, Computer role-playing game - Chronology of CRPGs, Computer role-playing game - Chronology of computer RPGs, Computer role-playing game - Chronology of console RPGs, Computer role-playing game - List of companies, Computer role-playing game - Related genres

Read more here: » Computer role-playing game: Encyclopedia II - Computer role-playing game - Variant terminology

A gramophone record, (also vinyl record, phonograph record, LP record, or simply record) is an analogue sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. Analogue audio recording onto a disc was the main technology used for the storing of recorded sound for most of the 20th century. The record, in one format or another, was the dominant musical format for 70 years. It overtook the phonograph cylinder in the fi ...

Including:

• Gramophone record - Basics
• Gramophone record - Common formats
• Gramophone record - Less common formats
• Gramophone record - Structure of a typical record
• Gramophone record - Early history of the medium
• Gramophone record - History of the materials
• Gramophone record - History of the speeds
• Gramophone record - Progress and the War of the Speeds
• Gramophone record - Stereo and beyond
• Gramophone record - Other developments
• Gramophone record - The record mastering and pressing process
• Gramophone record - Recording the disc
• Gramophone record - Mass producing records
• Gramophone record - Packaging and Distribution
• Gramophone record - Record Labels
• Gramophone record - Disc limitations
• Gramophone record - Recording medium comparison
• Gramophone record - Beyond the 1990s: Records versus the digital media
• Gramophone record - Arguments about sound fidelity
• Gramophone record - Disc jockeys
• Gramophone record - Making your own records
• Gramophone record - Studios
• Gramophone record - Personal recording devices
• Gramophone record - Preservation of disc recordings

Read more here: » Gramophone record: Encyclopedia - Gramophone record

A restaurant is an establishment that serves prepared food and beverages to be consumed on the premises. The term covers a multiplicity of venues and a diversity of styles of cuisine. Restaurants are sometimes a feature of a larger complex, typically a hotel, where the dining amenities are provided for the convenience of the residents and, of course, for the hotel to maximise their potential revenue. Such restaurants are often also open to non-residents. Restaurant - History. The term restaurantIncluding:

• Restaurant - History
• Restaurant - Types of restaurants
• Restaurant - Specific types of restaurant
• Restaurant - Brasserie bistro
• Restaurant - Dining car
• Restaurant - Fast food restaurants
• Restaurant - Restaurant guides
• Restaurant - Economics

Read more here: » Restaurant: Encyclopedia - Restaurant

Paganism (from Latin paganus) and Heathenry are catch-all terms which have come to connote a broad set of spiritual/religious beliefs and practices of a natural religion, as opposed to the Abrahamic religions. These beliefs, which are not necessarily compatible with each other, are usually characterized by polytheism and animism. Often, the term has pejorative connotations, comparable to infidel and Kafir in Islam. Paganism - Etymology. Paganism - Pagan. The term < ...

Including:

• Paganism - Etymology
• Paganism - Pagan
• Paganism - Heathen
• Paganism - Terminology
• Paganism - Common Word Usage
• Paganism - Heathenry
• Paganism - Pagan classifications
• Paganism - Pagan religions
• Paganism - Neo-pagan religions
• Paganism - Neopaganism
• Paganism - Modern nature religion
• Paganism - Notes

Read more here: » Paganism: Encyclopedia - Paganism

List of role-playing games List of publishers Science fiction Fantasy RPG History Computer role-playing Live action role-playing Tabletop role-playing Board games MMORPGs Wargaming Category:Role-playing games Computer role-playing games (CRPGs), often shortened to simply role-playing games (RPGs), are a type of video or computer game that traditionally uses gameplay elements found in paper-and-pencil role-playing games. Modern RPG games encompass a wide range of ...

Including:

• Computer role-playing game - Overview
• Computer role-playing game - Character development
• Computer role-playing game - Setting genres
• Computer role-playing game - Layout
• Computer role-playing game - Combat sequencing
• Computer role-playing game - History
• Computer role-playing game - Modern games
• Computer role-playing game - Cultural differences
• Computer role-playing game - Japanese and East Asian
• Computer role-playing game - American and other Western
• Computer role-playing game - Comparison
• Computer role-playing game - Shared characteristics
• Computer role-playing game - CRPGs' relationship to PnP RPGs
• Computer role-playing game - Variant terminology
• Computer role-playing game - Chronology of CRPGs
• Computer role-playing game - Chronology of computer RPGs
• Computer role-playing game - Chronology of console RPGs
• Computer role-playing game - List of companies
• Computer role-playing game - Related genres

Read more here: » Computer role-playing game: Encyclopedia - Computer role-playing game

The postal system is a system by which written documents typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages containing other matter, are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post. In principle, a postal service can be private or official. Restrictions are generally placed on private systems by governments. Since the 19th century, national postal systems have generally been established as government monopolies with a fee on the article prepaid, ...

Including:

• Mail - Early postal systems
• Mail - Persia
• Mail - China
• Mail - Rome
• Mail - Other systems
• Mail - Modern mail
• Mail - Organization
• Mail - Payment
• Mail - Rules and etiquette
• Mail - Rise of electronic correspondence
• Mail - Collecting
• Mail - Deregulation
• Mail - Types of mail
• Mail - Letters
• Mail - Postal cards and postcards
• Mail - Other
• Mail - Famous letters
• Mail - List of national postal services

Read more here: » Mail: Encyclopedia - Mail

Words in English with the suffix -onym (from the Greek onoma which means "name") refer to words with a particular property. Most of them are classical compounds. For example an acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of other words. Some words have the -nym form rather than the -onym form, such as "ananym" or "hypernym", but that may be more for ease of pronunciation than for etymological reasons. These words may be freely created, sometimes for no other reason than to give an erudite impression of the user who expects his listeners to understand Greek, and it is in this way that words such as ...

Including:

• -onym - A list of -onym words

Read more here: » -onym: Encyclopedia - -onym