noun
doublet
DUB-lit/ˈdʌblət/
A unit consisting of two related parts.
The English words potion and poison form an etymological doublet.
Etymology
The base means “double” or “twofold,” with a diminutive ending. Doublet developed the sense “one of two similar things,” specifically including words whose different forms descend from the same ancestral word.
More examples
- The telescope uses a doublet made of two joined lens elements.
- This gemstone doublet has a thin opal layer attached to a backing.
- Shirt and skirt are doublets that share a common origin.
Forms
doublet · doublets