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Definition of reverse spelling
: an unphonetic and unetymological spelling imitating the same spelling in words where it is etymological but no longer phonetic (as limb from lim, compare lamb, where b is etymological; delight from delit, compare light; Swanage from Swanwich \ˈswänij\ compare savage)
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Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
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