1. Noun:
* Linguistics: This is the most common category. "Portmanteau" refers to a word formed by combining parts of two other words, often with a blended meaning.
* Examples: "Smog" (smoke + fog), "Brexit" (British + exit), "Spork" (spoon + fork)
2. Noun (Literary):
* In literature, specifically in Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass," a portmanteau is a suitcase that can hold more than its size would suggest. This concept was used to illustrate the formation of new words by blending.
3. Adjective:
* "Portmanteau" can be used as an adjective to describe something that combines elements of two or more things.
* Example: "A portmanteau novel" could refer to a novel that combines genres or styles.
Therefore, the category of "portmanteau" depends on the specific context and how it is used.