by-form

[ bahy-fawrm ]

noun

, Linguistics.

1. a closely related and sometimes less frequent form, as spelt for spelled; variant.

by-form

noun

1. a subsidiary or variant form

Word History and Origins

Origin of by-form¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The Oxford dictionary says the word is a "by-form of the surname Jarvis," but I am not learned enough to see the connection, unless it was Mr. Jarvis who drove the first side-car.

From Project Gutenberg

The by-form Hr�arr, which is used of the famous Danish king, is due to a number of rather irregular changes, which can however be paralleled.

From Project Gutenberg

The by-form Clodius, in its origin a mere orthographical variant, was regularly used for certain Claudii in late republican times, but otherwise the two forms were used indifferently.

From Project Gutenberg

Analogous to alliteration and perhaps to be classed as a by-form of it is the subtle use of the same sound in unstressed parts of neighboring words, as in— Over the dark abyss, whose boiling gulf Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length.

From Project Gutenberg

It is hardly a “by-form” of nuptum as Muss-Arnolt, Assyrian Dictionary, p. 690b, and others have supposed, though nu-um-tum in one passage quoted by Muss-Arnolt, ib. p. 705a, may have arisen from an aspirate pronunciation of the p in nubtum.

From Project Gutenberg