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eponym
[ ep-uh-nim ]
noun
- a person, real or imaginary, from whom a place or thing takes or is said to take its name:
Brut, the supposed grandson of Aeneas, is the eponym of the Britons.
- a word based on or derived from a person's name.
- any ancient official whose name was used to designate his year of office.
eponym
/ ˈɛ±èəˌ²Ôɪ³¾ /
noun
- a name, esp a place name, derived from the name of a real or mythical person, as for example Constantinople from Constantine I
- the name of the person from which such a name is derived
in the Middle Ages, "Brutus" was thought to be the eponym of "Britain"
Derived Forms
- ËŒ±ð±è´Çˈ²Ô²â³¾¾±³¦, adjective
Other ˜yÐÄvlog Forms
- ±ð±è·´Ç·²Ô²â³¾Â·¾±³¦ [ep-, uh, -, nim, -ik], adjective
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of eponym1
Example Sentences
Medicine is also confronting problematic eponyms, perhaps most prominently the formerly official use of Nazi doctor Hans Asperger’s name for a neurodevelopmental condition that has since been merged with autism spectrum disorder.
His work even generated the eponym “Boteroesque,†referring to enlarged figures like the ones he created.
None is from Africa, where about 1500 vertebrate species have eponyms, many reflecting the continent’s history of imperialism.
Still, some scholars say the tradition should live on, arguing that even “canceled†eponyms can serve as a reminder of the paths that medicine should never go down again.
But some scholars contend that even “canceled†eponyms have a place, as stark reminders of the ethical breaches medicine should never repeat.
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More About Eponym
What doesÌýeponym mean?
An eponym is a word based on the name of a real or imaginary person.
The names of many places are eponyms. For example, the U.S. state of Pennsylvania is named after the father of the state’s founder, William Penn.
In medicine, the names of many diseases, procedures, and other things are eponyms. They are often based on the person who first described them or researched them. Examples of medical eponyms include Alzheimer’s disease (named for German neurologist Alois Alzheimer) and the Heimlich maneuver (named for U.S. physician H. J. Heimlich).
Some eponyms are adjectives. Some are based on real people, such as Shakespearean, Freudian, and Kafkaesque, while others are based on imaginary characters, such as Faustian and quixotic.
The word eponym can also refer to the person whom something is named after. Walt Disney is the eponym for The Walt Disney Company.
The adjective eponymous is used to describe someone who has given their name to something or has had something named after them, as in I met the eponymous owner of Sally’s Restaurant at the farmer’s market yesterday.Ìý
Eponymous can also be used to describe things (restaurants, books, movies, etc.) that are named after a person.
It is also often used to describe works of art that are named after their creator or lead fictional character, as in In Robinson Crusoe, the eponymous lead character lives alone on a deserted island for 28 years.Ìý
Example: The word Morrisonian is an eponym based on the name of author Toni Morrison.
Where doesÌýeponym come from?
The first records of the word eponym come from the 1840s. It’s a back formation of the adjective eponymous, meaning that eponymous came first and was altered to make the noun eponym. It comes from the Greek word ±ð±èṓn²â³¾´Ç²õ, which means “giving name.†Ep- means “over†or “after,†the Greek -onym means “name.†The same ending is used in words like pseudonym and anonym.
Eponym is most commonly used to refer to a word that’s based on a name. Many times, it’s obvious that a word is an eponym, especially when it’s an adjective like Shakespearean. However, there are many words that many people don’t realize are based on names, such as boycott and shrapnel.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to eponym?
What are some synonyms for eponym?
What are some words that share a root or word element with eponym?Ìý
What are some words that often get used in discussing eponym?
How isÌýeponym used in real life?
Eponym can be used in all kinds of contexts. Eponyms are often words based on well-known people who were pioneers in their field.
I think anyone who knows that APGAR is an eponym and not an acronym deserves a 10.
— Dr. Nina L. Shapiro (@drninashapiro)
The word "quixotic" is an **eponym** based on the character Don Quixote from Miguel de Cervantes's book of the same name.
— Liz Applegate (@LizApplegate)
Medical eponyms and their connection with Nazi crimes
— Kevin Pho, M.D. (@kevinmd)
Ìý
Try usingÌýeponym!
Is eponym used correctly in the following sentence?
Enzo Ferrari was the eponym for the luxury car company that bears his name.
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