Compounding
A word formation process where two or more free morphemes combine to create a new word with a meaning related to, but distinct from, its components. Examples include 'blackboard', 'sunflower', and 'ice cream'.
Real World
The compound 'catfish' originally referred to a type of fish but gained a new compound meaning through the 2010 MTV show 'Catfish', where it describes someone who creates a fake online identity — showing how compounding can be repurposed culturally.
Exam Focus
Discuss whether the compound is endocentric or exocentric to access higher analytical marks.
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