False singular

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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.

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References

  1. "pea", Online Etymology Dictionary, 2020-03-05, archived from the original on 2023-06-24, retrieved 2024-02-07
  2. "How a Mistake Gave Us the Word 'Cherry'", Merriam-Webster Word History, retrieved 2024-02-07