Namely, Introduction

NAMELY

EP-oh-nimz

a word based on or derived from a person's name.

First Known Use: mid-19^th century

“What’s in a Name?”

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, 2.2

Introduction

Yes, eponym’s a funny word—

A word that one day came

From some important person, who

Contributed his name.

Or hers. And there are a lot of words

That once were born like this,

And we will visit some of them—

But please don’t boo and hiss.

Another journey! Off we go!

I’ll use no sleight of hand.

So have your boarding passes to

Dear Dictionaryland!

We’ll spend some fall and winter months

Pursuing eponyms—

Those words we have which long ago

Were names of hers and hims.