Alixandra (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} recombinantdna) wrote,@ 2008-04-20 10:08:00 |
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| Entry tags: | linguistics, science |
enclosis
Remember how I kept muttering about endocytose being a back-formation from endocytosis? Well, dictionary.com has confirmed my suspicion.
I'm going to be honest, I'm pretty ecstatic about having spotted this one. I have a soft spot for back-formation -- it's such an interesting process.
You see, we use this verb often; and everytime I've heard it, I've thought to myself "that is one beautiful back-formation" and I've felt myself deriving it each time I've said it -- it's breathtaking.
en·do·cy·tose /ˌɛndoʊsaɪˈtoʊs, -ˈtoʊz/ [en-doh-sahy-tohs, -tohz]
–verb (used without object), -tosed, -tos·ing.
Physiology. (of a cell) to take within by the process of endocytosis.
[Origin: 1970–75; back formation from endocytosis]
–verb (used without object), -tosed, -tos·ing.
Physiology. (of a cell) to take within by the process of endocytosis.
[Origin: 1970–75; back formation from endocytosis]
Note, this derivation first took place before I was born, so I likely didn't produce it de novo but, as I said, I feel myself taking 'endocytosis' and clipping it whenever I use the verb, and that was what first made me suspect that it was a back-formation.
