What is Agnomination? Definition and Examples of Agnames

Agnate is a term used in linguistics to describe a word that has undergone a process called agnomination, which involves the creation of a new word by combining two or more existing words. The resulting word is often a compound word, and it may have a different meaning or connotation than the original words.

For example, the word "smog" is an agname derived from the words "smoke" and "fog." Similarly, the word "brunch" is an agname created by combining "breakfast" and "lunch." Agnomination can also be used to create new words that are more descriptive or evocative than the original words, such as "infotainment" (a combination of "information" and "entertainment").

Agnate is a term that is not commonly used in everyday language, but it is useful in linguistic discussions about word formation and the creation of new words.