false friend
[ fawls-frend ]
/ ˈfɔls ˈfrɛnd /
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noun Linguistics.
a word in one language that is similar in form or sound to a word in another language but has a different meaning and may or may not be etymologically related: for example, English gift “present” and German Gift “poison” are false friends.
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Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of false friend
First recorded in 1930–35; patterned after French faux ami in same sense
words often confused with false friend
See false cognate.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH false friend
false cognate, false friend (see confusables note at false cognate)Words nearby false friend
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for false friend
false friend
noun
a word or expression in one language that, because it resembles one in another language, is often wrongly taken to have the same meaning, for example, the French agenda which means diary, not agenda
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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