retronym

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Then we could have retronym, meaning a word formed by reversing the spelling of another word.

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Definitions (2)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun 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, as acoustic guitar in contrast to electric guitar or analog watch in contrast to digital watch.

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Examples

  • Then we could have retronym, meaning a word formed by reversing the spelling of another word. —  VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XXIII No 4
  • The term Rāja Yoga is a retronym, introduced in the 15th-century Hatha Yoga Pradipika to distinguish the school based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali from the more current school of Hatha Yoga expounded by Swami Swatmarama. —  Yahoo! Answers: Latest Questions
  • The current term for this sort of thing is retronym. —  RPGamer
  • With the popularity of women’s slacks, a retronym was coined: the pants suit, to differentiate from the skirted suit.
 

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Retronym has been looked up 254 times, favorited 4 times, listed 31 times, and commented on 0 times.

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