10 more Portmanteau words

1. Internet (international/network)
2. Malware (malicious/software): Computer programs that are designed to damage or disable computer systems
3. Meld (melt/weld): Blend/combine
4. Modem (modulation/demodulation): An electronic device that makes possible the transmission of data to or from a computer via telephone or other communication lines
5. Motel (motor/hotel): Overnight accommodation designed for motorists
6. Motorcade (motor/cavalcade): A procession of motor vehicles
7. Oxbridge (Oxford/Cambridge): An inclusive term that is used to describe both Oxford and Cambridge universities
8. Smog (smoke + fog): A form of air pollution that has the qualities of both smoke and fog
9. Spork (spoon/fork): A hybrid form of cutlery
10. Workaholic (work/alcoholic): An individual who works excessive hours. Cf chocoholic (chocolate + alcoholic): Someone who eats excessive amounts of chocolate

10 Portmanteau words

A portmanteau is literally a bag for carrying (porter) a coat (manteau). The term was first used by Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass:

“Well, ‘slithy’ means “lithe and slimy” and ‘mimsy’ is “flimsy and miserable”. You see it’s like a portmanteau - there are two meanings packed up into one word.” Sometimes we get so used to these words we no longer see them as blends (eg breathalyser - breath and analyser)

1. Bionic (biology/electronic): Artificial body parts that have been enhanced by technology
2. Bodacious (bold/audacious): Insolent or unrestrained, extraordinary or impressively large
3. Chortle (chuckle/snort): Laugh in a breathy, gleeful way.
4. Cyborg (cybernetic/organism): A human or fictional entity whose physiological functioning is enhanced by mechanical elements.
5. Dumbfound (dumb/confound): Greatly astonish or amaze.
6. Edutainment (education/entertainment): Games or other forms of entertainment that have an educational aspect
7. Electrocution (electricity/execution): Death by electricity
8. Flare (flame/glare): A sudden brief burst of bright flame or light
9. Ginormous (giant/enormous): Large, huge. glamping (glamour/camping): Luxury camping
10. Glitz (glamour/Ritz): Extravagant yet superficial

10 Legal doublets

Many standardised phrases are used in English legalise. They consist of two (sometimes more) words that are near synonyms. The origin of the doubling - and sometimes even tripling - often lies in the transition from use of one language for legal purposes to use of another for the same purposes, (eg Germanic([Anglo-]Saxon or Old English) to Romance Latin or Law French or, within the Romance subfamily, from Latin to French). To ensure understanding, words of Germanic origin were often paired with words having equivalent or near-equivalent meanings in Latin (reflecting the interactions between Germanic and Roman law following the decline of the Roman Empire or later, Law French (reflecting the influence of the Norman Conquest), and words of Latin origin were often paired with their Law French cognates or outright descendants.

1. Aid and abet
2. All and sundry

3. Care and attention

4. Cease and desist

5. Fit and proper

6. Goods and chattels

7. Have and hold

8. Let or hindrance

9. Null and void

10. Will and testament