Wreath-word Meaning, Parts of speech, Etymology, Synonyms, Antonyms and Example Sentences.

Wreath-word Meaning, Parts of speech, Etymology, Synonyms, Antonyms and Example Sentences?

A wreath-word is a word that is formed by combining two words that rhyme, such as "brunch" (breakfast + lunch) or "smog" (smoke + fog). Wreath-words are also known as blend words, portmanteau words, or telescopic words.

Wreath-words can belong to different parts of speech depending on their meaning and usage. For example, "brunch" is a noun, "smog" is a noun or an adjective, and "spork" (spoon + fork) is a noun or a verb.

The term "wreath-word" was coined by the linguist Mario Pei in his book The Story of Language (1949). He derived it from the Greek word "stephanos", which means "wreath" or "crown". Pei explained that wreath-words are like wreaths made of flowers or leaves that are intertwined.

Some synonyms for wreath-word are:

- blend word

- portmanteau word

- telescopic word

- compound word

Some antonyms for wreath-word are:

- simple word

- root word

- monosyllabic word

- atomic word

Some example sentences using wreath-word are:

- Lewis Carroll was fond of creating wreath-words in his works, such as "chortle" (chuckle + snort) and "slithy" (slimy + lithe).

- The word "motel" is a wreath-word that combines "motor" and "hotel".

- Some wreath-words are so common that we forget they are made of two words, such as "helicopter" (helix + pteron) and "piano" (pianoforte).

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