Word of the Day

: September 14, 2008

eponymous

adjective ih-PAH-nuh-mus

What It Means

: of, relating to, or being one for whom or which something is or is believed to be named

eponymous in Context

Fans of The Steve Mapplethorpe Comedy Hour waited outside the studio exit in hopes of catching a glimpse of its eponymous host.

Did You Know?

It's no coincidence that "eponymous" has to do with naming -- it comes to us from the Greek adjective "epōnymos," which is itself from "onyma," meaning "name." "Onyma" has lent its name to a number of English words, including "synonymous," "pseudonym," and "anonymous." Traditionally, an eponymous person or thing (i.e., an "eponym") might be a mythical ancestor or totem believed to be the source of a clan's name. Today, however, "eponymous" more typically refers to such individuals as the front man of "Theo's Trio" or the owner of "Sally's Restaurant"(Theo and Sally, respectively, of course). The things that are named for such name-providers are also "eponymous." For example, we can speak of "the eponymous 'Ed Sullivan Show'" as well as "the eponymous Ed Sullivan."