Eponyms

/ˈɛp.ə.nɪmz/ noun

Definition

People after whom something (like a place, disease, or product) is named, or the names themselves that come from a person's name.

Etymology

From Greek 'epōnymos' meaning 'named after,' from 'epi' (upon) + 'onyma' (name). The word entered English in the 17th century to describe people who give their names to things, and later expanded to mean the things named after them.

Kelly Says

Sandwich comes from the Earl of Sandwich, Alzheimer's from Dr. Alois Alzheimer, and Celsius from Anders Celsius—eponyms are everywhere in science, food, and geography, turning people into permanent place-holders in our language!

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