Found 2 items, similar to back-formation.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: back-formation back-formation n : a word invented (usually unwittingly by subtracting an affix) on the assumption that a familiar word derives from it
English → English (gcide) Definition: back-formation back-formation \back"-for*ma`tion\ n. (Linguistics) 1. a word invented (usually unwittingly by subtracting an affix) on the assumption that a familiar word derives from it, such as emote from emotion. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC] 2. the process of inventing a back-formation[1]. [PJC]