Eponym

Pronunciation: /ˈɛpəˌnɪm/

Definitions of eponym

noun a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc., is named or thought to be named

Example Sentences

A1 My friend's name is an eponym for a famous character in a book.

A2 The word 'sandwich' is an eponym named after the Earl of Sandwich.

B1 The term 'Boycott' is an eponym derived from the actions of Charles Boycott.

B2 The disease Parkinson's is an eponym honoring the work of Dr. James Parkinson.

C1 The term 'algorithm' is an eponym that originated from the name of a Persian mathematician, Al-Khwarizmi.

C2 The eponym 'Machiavellian' comes from the Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli.

Examples of eponym in a Sentence

formal The medical condition Parkinson's disease is named after its eponym, Dr. James Parkinson.

informal Did you know that the sandwich is an eponym named after the Earl of Sandwich?

slang I heard that the term 'boycott' is actually an eponym from a guy named Captain Charles Boycott.

figurative The term 'mentor' is often used as an eponym for someone who guides and teaches others.

Grammatical Forms of eponym

• past tense: eponymed
• plural: eponyms
• comparative: more eponymous
• superlative: most eponymous
• present tense: eponym
• future tense: will eponym
• perfect tense: has eponymed
• continuous tense: is eponyming
• singular: eponym
• positive degree: eponym
• infinitive: to eponym
• gerund: eponyming
• participle: eponymed

Origin and Evolution of eponym

First Known Use: 1846 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'eponym' originates from the Greek word 'epōnumos', which means 'given as a name'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to a person after whom a place, institution, etc., is named, the meaning of 'eponym' has evolved to also include any name or noun formed from or based on a person's name.