Word Formation and Derivation Quiz

Study Notes

A prefix is added to the beginning of a word, and a suffix is added to the end of a word
Derivation forms new words from existing words by adding prefixes or suffixes.
Back Formation forms new words by removing supposed or actual affixes from existing words.
Compounding forms new words by combining two or more words.
Repurposing is when a word from one context is applied to a different context.
Conversion changes a word from one part of speech to another, like using a verb as a noun.
Eponyms are words named after people.
Abbreviations are shortened forms of words, including clippings, acronyms, and initialisms.
- Clipping removes part of a word, like "exam" for "examination."
- Acronyms are formed from the first letters of words and pronounced as single words, like "NATO."
- Initialisms are formed from the first letters of words and read as individual letters, like "DNA."
Loanwords are borrowed from other languages, like "tycoon" from Japanese.
Onomatopeia creates words that imitate sounds, like "plop."
Reduplication repeats or nearly repeats words or sounds, like "goody-goody."
Nonce Words are words invented for a specific occasion, like "quark."
Error occurs when misspellings, mispronunciations, etc., create new forms, like "scramble" from "scrabble."
Blending combines parts of two or more words to create a new word, like "Webinar" from "worldwide web" and "seminar."