BACK FORMATION

Back-formation is the creation of a neologism by reinterpreting an earlier word as a compound

and removing the affixes, or more generally, by trying to reconstruct an original form from any
kind of derived form.

Even though many legitimate English words are formed this way, new coinages may sound
strange, and are often used for humorous effect. For
example, gruntled or pervious (from disgruntled andimpervious) would be considered mistakes
today, and used only in humorous contexts. 

Probably back-formation from eavesdropper, literally, one standing under the drip from the eaves
is called Etymology

When you read of children playing "Chuck-Farthing," you're likely to assume that this is
Pynchon's playful back-formation from "Pitch-Penny," but the dictionary makes it clear that the
etymology runs the other way.

Examples and Observations:

 singular noun pea from the older English plural : pease

 the verb burgle from the older English noun : burglar

Back-formation word Original Word

babysit babysitter
interfluve interfluvial
isolate isolated
lase laser
televise television
back-form back-formation
intuit intuition