backformations (again)

[Fred Shapiro]

On Sat, 3 Feb 2001, Beverly Flanigan wrote:

> Two last backformations (maybe):  Read in _The Nation_ just this
> morning:  someone was "coronated" (figuratively) for something or
> other.   And in another written text, "invocating" was used for
> "invoking."  Interestingly, these were both written; I would guess more
> such usages would occur in speech than in writing, unless they've already
> become established and accepted?

Neither of these is new (one dates from 1623, the other from 1526) and
neither is a back-formation.

Fred Shapiro


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