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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 7, 1999
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eponym [n. EP-uh-nim]
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An eponym is a person's name that has become part of the common
language, and the word derived from the name is eponymous
[adj. ih-PON-uh-mus]. For example, the eponym of the city of Rome is
Romulus, the son of Mars in Roman mythology.
The Latin prefix epi- (to) and onoma (name) were combined to give us
this word. There is also the similar word toponym (a place name that
has become part of the common language), from the Greek topos (place).
There are many eponymous words in English, including these:
milquetoast: a shy, timid person (from Caspar Milquetoast, a character
in a newspaper comic by H.T. Webster)
Washington: cities, a state, and other U.S. landmarks (from George
Washington, first president of the United States)
napoleon: a rectangular bar of layered custard pastry (from Napoleon
Bonaparte, 19th century emperor of France)
caesar salad: a tossed salad (from Caesar Cardini, a restauranteur in
Tijuana, Mexico, who invented it in 1924)
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