False singular
In English grammar, a false singular occurs when a singular noun ending in a s or z sound is understood as a plural from which a new singular is constructed. The false singular is a form of back-formation.
Some false singulars become standard English. For example, pea was originally a false singular from pease[1] pl. peasen. The old word remains in the phrase pease porridge.[2]
The non-standard historical forms Chinee and Portuguee are also false singulars, from Chinese and Portuguese.
References
[edit]- ^ "pea", Online Etymology Dictionary, 2020-03-05, archived from the original on 2023-06-24, retrieved 2024-02-07
- ^ "How a Mistake Gave Us the Word 'Cherry'", Merriam-Webster Word History, retrieved 2024-02-07