Word info

popular etymology

Noun

Meaning

popular etymology (plural popular etymologies)

A folk etymology.

Source: en.wiktionary.org

Examples

Its meaning is glossed as 'summer's end', and the frequent spelling with f suggests analysis by popular etymology as sam ('summer') and fuin ('end'). Source: Internet

Medieval popular etymology also associated it (wrongly) with derivations from the Latin impetere (to attack). Source: Internet

Several instances of popular etymology are attested from ancient authors. Source: Internet

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