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back·ro·nym

(băkrə-nĭm′)

1. An acronym coined by constructing a phrase from words whose initial letters spell an existing word or name. For example, wiki is a backronym when it is described as standing for what I know is because wiki is a previously existing word whose original meaning is “collaborative website.”

2. The phrase whose initial letters spell out such a word.

[Blend of BACK¹ and ACRONYM.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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