What is reverse word formation?

Back formation

The back formation method is exactly the opposite of the affixation method. The affixation method borrows this suffix to form the heart word, while the back formation method removes the misunderstood suffix to form the word. New words. For example: televise is the reverse of television by deleting -ion.

The new words created using this word-formation method are called reverse words. Most retromorphic words are verbs, and the most common protoform words that form retromorphic words are nouns and adjectives.

a. Noun-gt; verb. For example:

--pedlar à peddle (peddling)

--swindler à swindle (fraud)

b. Adjective -gt; verb. For example:

--peevish à peeve (angry)

--gloomy à gloom (becoming gloomy)

British English more often uses reverse word formation:

For example, the verb derived from the word burglar becomes burglarize in American English, and becomes castle in British English.

Extended information:

Conversion method

In English, some nouns can be used as verbs, and some adjectives can be used as adverbs or verbs. The method of using a part of speech as another part of speech without changing the meaning of the word is called transformation method.

Verbs can be converted into nouns

Many verbs can be converted into nouns, most of which have little change in meaning (below ①); sometimes there is a certain change in meaning (below ②); some are the same as a verb It forms a phrase with the indefinite article to express an action (③ below). For example:

①Let's go out for a walk. Let's go out for a walk.

②He is a man of strong build. He is a man of strong build.

③Let's have a swim. Let's swim.

Noun turning

Many nouns representing objects (① below), body parts (② below), and certain types of people (③ below) can be used as verbs to express actions. Some Abstract nouns (see ④ below) can also be used as verbs. For example:

①Did you book a seat on the plane? Have you booked the seat on the plane?

②Please hand me the book. Please hand me the book.

③She nursed her husband back to health. She nursed her husband back to health.

④We lunched together. We had lunch together.

Reference: Word Formation-Baidu Encyclopedia