relexify

[ ree-lek-suh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

Linguistics.

relexified, relexifying.

1. to replace the vocabulary of (a language, especially a pidgin) with words drawn from another language, without changing the grammatical structure.

Other Word Forms

• re·lexi·fi·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of relexify¹

First recorded in 1960–65; re- + lexi(con) + -fy

Quiz

Q: Fill in the blank: "Salchipapas" is a portmanteau of the Spanish words for ______ and ______.

• salt and potatoes
• sausage and French fries
• sardines and French fries

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