cognomen

[ kog-noh-muhn ]

noun

, plural cog·no·mens, cog·nom·i·na [kog-, nom, -, uh, -n, uh].

1. a surname.
2. any name, especially a nickname.
3. the third and commonly the last name of a citizen of ancient Rome, indicating the person's house or family, as “Caesar” in “Gaius Julius Caesar.” Compare agnomen ( def 1 ).

cognomen

/ kɒɡˈnəʊmɛn; -ˈnəʊ-; kɒɡˈnɒmɪnəl /

noun

1. See praenomen, nomen, agnomen
   (originally) an ancient Roman's third name or nickname, which later became his family name See also agnomen nomen praenomen

Derived Forms

• cognominal, adjective
• cogˈnominally, adverb

Other Words From

• cog·nom·i·nal [kog-, nom, -, uh, -n, uh, l, -, noh, -m, uh, -], adjective
• cog·nomi·nal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cognomen¹

1800–10; < Latin, equivalent to co- co- + nōmen name, with -g- on model of nōscī: cognōscī; cognition

Word History and Origins

Origin of cognomen¹

C19: from Latin: additional name, from co- together + nōmen name; influenced in form by cognōscere to learn

Example Sentences

The question has frequently been asked who was intended by the cognomen Saint Gris?

From Project Gutenberg

The survivor was named "Hoyle" (a cognomen for our old friend Hurley) and his doings gave us a new fund of entertainment.

From Project Gutenberg

By adopting the cognomen of Habrodiaitos, or high-liver, he brought upon himself the nickname of Rhabdodiaitos, or brush-man.

From Project Gutenberg

He has been called a Sphinx, and well deserves the cognomen, for no man shows less upon his face the emotions of his heart.

From Project Gutenberg

He writes under a slightly more suitable cognomen, but I have been unable, in our brief acquaintance, to drag it from him.

From Project Gutenberg