paronym

[par-uh-nim]

noun

Grammar.

1. a paronymous word.

paronym

/ pəˈrɒnɪməs, ˈpærənɪm /

noun

1. linguistics a cognate word

Other Word Forms

• paronymic adjective
• paronymously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of paronym¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of paronym¹

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

Example Sentences

Names and words which are somewhat alike in sound, paronyms, as they are called by grammarians, may be taken or mistaken one for the other.

From Project Gutenberg