#26495
04/12/2001 6:55 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3 |
I am looking for the word that is the opposite of the word "acronym."
If an acronym is a word made up from the first letters of a word in a phrase (ex. SCUBA = Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus), what do you call a phrase made up from the letters of a single word?
Thank you.
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#26496
04/12/2001 7:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 428
addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 428 |
Are you thinking of "acrostic"? Something like:
We
Only
Read
Dante
I'm sure there are thousands of better acrostics on this site alone, but it's the end of the day and my brain has punched out early.
Flatlander
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#26497
04/12/2001 8:15 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 508
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 508 |
a phrase made up from the letters of a single word?
Welcome to AWADtalk! I'm not sure if there's a word for it, but do you mean when you start off with the word, eg, SMART, and then try to find a phrase that fits both the letters and your particular purpose? Unfortunately I'm brain-dead at this point of the day and can't think of anything clever for SMART. It's so bad that I can't even think of what it actually does stand for, which here in Michigan is "Southeast Michigan A_____ R_____ Transit" (Or something like that - Sparteye, do you know?)
If there is a word for the backward process, someone on the Board will know!
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#26498
04/13/2001 12:33 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3 |
Hi Flatlander:
"Acrostic" sounds good. Thanks!
A friend of mine is looking for the word, and he had asked many of his friends who came up with nothing. I immediately thought of this site but didn't expect an answer in just hours!
Tam Tran
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#26499
04/13/2001 12:36 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3 |
Hi Nancy K:
Thanks for your message. You must be a regular on AWADtalk having recognized that I am a newcomer. =) I hope to begin reading and participating more on the forums when I finish my exams and papers in a few weeks.
Tam Tran
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#26500
04/13/2001 2:05 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
Really good question! And welcome to the board, tbtran!...I'm just going through my "initiation" myself...you're in for a treat!
Wouldn't the opposite of acronym, then, be a word made up from the LAST letters of the words in a phrase? And since that doesn't happen often, does a word even exist for it? Perhaps you'll have to invent one...add to the language! I'll keep peeking in to see if someone comes up with an answer or solution.
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#26501
04/13/2001 4:38 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094 |
Wouldn't the opposite of acronym, then, be a word made up from the LAST letters of the words in a phrase? And since that doesn't happen often, does a word even exist for it? Perhaps you'll have to invent one...add to the language! I'll keep peeking in to see if someone comes up with an answer or solution.
How about "bacronym"?
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#26502
04/13/2001 5:17 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
>bacronym<
Like it, Jazzoctopus!!
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#26503
04/13/2001 6:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
bacronym
Don't think that's what he's after, though.
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#26504
04/13/2001 7:15 PM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
I don't think acrostic works well, since it has the more specialized meaning illustrated by flatlander. I once searched for this myself, came up empty, and coined the phrase "acronymic expansion". (well, it was new to me : )
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#26505
04/16/2001 4:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
I once searched for this myself, came up empty,
Holy cow, tbtran! Congratulations! You have won our game of Stump the Tsuwm.
[I-didn't-think-I'd-live-to-see-the-day emoticon]
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#26506
04/16/2001 4:31 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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#26507
04/16/2001 5:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
what's the word for laughing so hard you feel you're about to upchuck
Upchuckling? Laughralphing?
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#26508
04/16/2001 5:16 PM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
 sure... make light of one of my darkest days.
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#26509
04/16/2001 6:58 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
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Stump the TsuwmNo, no, Sparteye--it's Tsump the Tsuwm!  AnnaS., what about larfing? Tswum, poor baby, I'm sorry you're having a dark day, but aren't we just little rays of sunshine for you? 
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#26510
04/16/2001 7:07 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
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Dear Heart,
You must show that you have a small imperfection, now and then, lest you enrage the gods.
wow
High Priestess
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#26511
04/17/2001 3:50 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819 |
How about "bacronym"?Nah - sounds like another name for pork bellies.  I like your thinking, though. Keeping it Greek, bathonym would be the opposite or acronym.
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