BACK-FORMATION
Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language
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1998
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© Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language 1998, originally published by Oxford University Press 1998. (Hide copyright information)
Copyright
BACK-FORMATION. The creation of one WORD from another by removing rather than adding an element:
laze from
lazy;
gruntled from
disgruntled. Such words are usually coined for effect or because people think they exist or ought to exist. Some offend for aesthetic or conservative reasons, such as
enthuse from
enthusiasm (1820s AmE),
intuit from
intuition (1770s BrE),
liaise from
liaison (1920s BrE). Some usages may be denounced as back-formations when they are in fact long-established words: for example, the verbs
aggress and
resile are attested from the 16c, but are often taken to be back-formed from
aggression and
resilient. To
back-form is itself a back-formation. Back-formations may fill structural as well as semantic gaps: aircraft
formate when flying in formation, commentators
commentate when reporting on games. Stunt and nonce forms are common: ‘Do your leching away from the office!’ ( Maurice West,
Backlash, 1958). See
NOUN-INCORPORATION,
WORD-FORMATION.
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Richard II. (book reviews)
Magazine article from: History Today; 2/1/1998; ; 700+ words
; ...pounds sterling]. ISBN: 0 30007 0039 Richard II was one of half a dozen medieval kings...to circumstance and to personality. In Richard's case, as in others, the proportions...dislike of the court and court government, Richard inherited a situation which would have...
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Richard Sees Time on His Side; 9 Games Into Redskins Tenure, Safety Seeks Consistency in Long Run
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 11/4/1995; ; 700+ words
; ...matters a little inside, too. Stanley Richard knows this. He knows he isn't getting...only asks for time to prove himself. Richard has been in the middle of some of the...in this organization, a rookie," Richard said. "Nobody knows me. People have...
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Richard Ericson: an appreciation (1).(In memoriam)
Magazine article from: Canadian Journal of Sociology; 12/22/2007; ; 700+ words
; ...consolation to be able to commemorate Richard's remarkable life and the rich legacy...grief, we can celebrate the lasting gifts Richard made to the world of scholarship and learning. Many of Richard's colleagues and friends have traveled...
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Richard steps into post at Foundation.(News)(Ronald Richard appointed president of the Cleveland Foundation)
Magazine article from: Crain's Cleveland Business; 6/16/2003; ; 700+ words
; ...his 47th birthday on Jan. 25, Ronald Richard was discussing his future with a friend...major nonprofit organization,'' Mr. Richard, a former diplomat and international...Cleveland Foundation. By this time, Mr. Richard had honed his career vision a little further...
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'Richard III': Monarch of evil, charisma.(ARTS)(THEATER)
Newspaper article from: The Washington Times; 4/5/2003; 700+ words
; ...WASHINGTON TIMES Has there ever been a Richard III so contagiously having a blast as...over poetry and tragedy. So much about "Richard III" is Jacobean and excessive that you...lighting that makes everyone look sick. Richard III doesn't seem to mind it a bit...
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 "Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque)")
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Richard III: Evil or unfairly portrayed?
Newspaper article from: Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque); 8/16/2009; ; 651 words
; "" since I cannot prove a lover " I am determined to prove a villain." -- Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Richard III Poor Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who became King Richard III upon the death of his brother, Edward IV...
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 "San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, CA)")
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Richard cancer-free, back to coaching.
Newspaper article from: San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, CA); 5/31/2007; 700+ words
; ...State women's basketball coach Janice Richard has beaten breast cancer, and now she's heading home to resume her career. Richard, whose contract wasn't extended by...III school, located about 10 miles from Richard's hometown of Alexandria, La., is...
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Richard takes a hands-on approach.(fashion designer Kenneth Richard opens women's wear store in New York, NY)
Magazine article from: WWD; 8/27/1997; ; 700+ words
; Kenneth Richard designs sophisticated urban rock 'n...not all he does. When construction on Richard's 450-square-foot boutique at 68...heart attack and didn't tell me," Richard said. "I was in London and when I came...
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`Richard III': Perfectly Beastly // Fascist Setting Befitting to Plot
Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 1/19/1996; ; 700+ words
; RICHARD III (STAR) (STAR) (STAR) 1/2 Richard III Ian McKellen Queen Elizabeth Annette Bening Clarence...Kristin Scott Thomas Buckingham Jim Broadbent Directed by Richard Loncraine. Written by Ian McKellen and Loncraine. Based...
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 "Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)")
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Richard's still got punch without Judy; TV'S MADELEY IS RARING TO GO AS SOLO PROJECTS EMERGE.(Features)
Newspaper article from: Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland); 4/10/2008; 700+ words
; ...of direction for housewives' favourite Richard Madeley - and he is all fired up. The...of husband and wife TV presenting duo Richard and Judy - is about to go it alone. Not...ratings dip. So it is easy to see why Richard can't wait to move on to the next stage...
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Richard II
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of World Biography
Richard II Richard II (1367-1400) was king of England from 1377 to 1399. His reign...saw the rise of strong baronial forces aiming to control the monarchy. Richard II, known as Richard of Bordeaux from his birthplace, was born on Jan...
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Richard I
Book article from: The Oxford Companion to British History
Richard I (1157–99), king of England (1189–99). Richard has attracted legends as bees are proverbially...distortions and misunderstandings of the historical Richard. In the popular imagination today, Richard is...
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Richard, Maurice
Book article from: Notable Sports Figures
Maurice Richard 1921-2000 Canadian hockey player W hen Maurice Richard — universally known by his nickname, "The...of the greatest players in the history of hockey, Richard's legendary exploits on the ice helped the Montreal...
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Richard III
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of World Biography
Richard III Richard III (1452-1485), last Yorkist king of England, reigned from 1483...Fotheringhay Castle, Richd was the eleventh child and youngest son of Richard, Duke of York, and Cecily Neville. His father's 1454 and 1460 regencies...
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Richard, Zachary
Book article from: Contemporary Musicians
Zachary Richard Accordionist, singer Cajun accordionist and singer Zachary Richard commented in a 1990 A&M press biography...for the gumbo of musical styles that go into what Richard calls Cajun, or Swamp Rock. Steeped in rock and...
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