autological

[prettygoodword]

This is a theme week -- Beginning With A:


autological - adj., (of a word) self-describing.


For example, polysyllabic, English, pronounceable, common, olde, noun, and word are all autological. To my surprise, the Wikipedia article does NOT have an exhaustive list autological words, though it does tell us the opposite is heterological -- instead, one has to go to Wiktionary. From Greek roots autos, self + logos, word.

See also the Grelling–Nelson paradox.

---L.

Comments

[packbat.livejournal.com]

I think Wikipedia has been trying to delete all those lists. :/

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Depends on the kind of list, really. The list of McGyver's McGyverisms is holding on strong.

[packbat.livejournal.com]

Clearly there aren't enough autology fans.