paronym

[par-uh-nim]

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noun Grammar.

a paronymous word.

Origin of paronym

1840–50; < Greek parṓnymon, neuter of parṓnymos formed by a slight change in name, derivative, equivalent to par- par- + -ōnymos, adj. derivative of ónyma name

Related formspar·o·nym·ic, adjective

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Related Words for paronym

borrowing, calque, neology, paronym

British Dictionary definitions for paronym

paronym

noun

linguistics a cognate word

Derived Formsparonymic or paronymous (pəˈrɒnɪməs), adjectiveparonymously, adverb

Word Origin for paronym

C19: via Late Latin from Greek paronumon, from para- 1 (beside) + onoma a name

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for paronym

"cognate word," 1846, from Greek paronymos, "formed by a slight change," from para- (see para- (1)) + onyma (see name (n.)). Related: Paronymous (1660s).