Words From:
Latin
Arabic
Asian Languages
French
Eponyms
German
Slavic Languages
Dutch
Old English
New World Languages
Japanese
Greek
Italian
Spanish
Words You Need To Know

Eponyms

Eponyms are words based on a person's or character's name. Sometimes the person's name and the word are exactly the same and the word simply takes on a new meaning. In other cases the person's name is slightly changed. When this happens, the stressed syllable of the new word can also change and you won't always recognize the origin, which might be a somewhat familiar name. Take, for example, gardenia. It's really just a man's name (Alexander Garden) with the plant-naming suffix -ia. In fact, all of the words in this list that end with ia are names for plants and are based on the last names of botanists.

Now You Try

  1. 1. Three of the eponyms listed are inspired by characters from Greek or Roman mythology. Which three eponyms are they?

    1. Show Answer
    2. Hide Answer

    The three eponyms based on characters from Greek or Roman mythology are narcissistic, tantalize, and hector.

  2. 2. If you discovered a new plant and you could use your first or last name to give a name to the plant, what would you call it? How would you pronounce it?

    1. Show Answer
    2. Hide Answer

    Answers will vary; your teacher can help you.