Namely, 28

NAMELY

eponyms (EP-uh-nimz)

words 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

28: pasteurization: the exposure of food (especially dairy products) to a very high temperature in order to kill bacteria that can cause food to spoil (from Louis Pasteur, 1822–95, French biologist who developed the process; first known use of word, 1881)

And so we learn to pasteurize—

And lights illuminate our eyes:

“He drinks it—and he lives, not dies!”

We trusted scientists back then—

Have trusted them since who know when?—

But now, for some, it seems a sin

To trust what learned people say—

As if disease will go away

All by itself. Now let me say:

I know that science changes fast—

That theories sometimes do not last—

But our wide world is far more vast

Than wishes and simplicity

Conspire to make it seem to be.

So I’ll trust science—works for me.*

*For 14 years it’s kept my cancer from killing me.