agnomen

[ag-noh-muhn]

noun

plural

agnomina 

1. an additional, fourth name given to a person by the ancient Romans in allusion to some achievement or other circumstance, as “Africanus” in “Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus.”

2. a nickname.

agnomen

/ æɡˈnɒmɪnəl, æɡˈnəʊmɛn /

noun

1. the fourth name or second cognomen occasionally acquired by an ancient Roman See also cognomen nomen praenomen

2. another word for nickname

Other Word Forms

• agnominal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of agnomen¹

1745–55; < Late Latin, equivalent to ad- ad- + nōmen name, with alteration to ag- through influence of agnōscere; agnize

Word History and Origins

Origin of agnomen¹

C18: from Late Latin, from ad- in addition to + nōmen name

Example Sentences

While its most familiar building is a Catholic cathedral and its most famous sports franchise carries a heavenly agnomen, New Orleans lacks a non-gridiron saint.

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Why old Antony was persuaded of the devil to christen his second child by the ungodly agnomen of Henry, we are not informed.

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To counteract the confusion that would inevitably arise, an agnomen or "tee-name" is usually appended.

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Sometimes there was also a fourth name, called the agnomen, added from some illustrious action, or remarkable event.

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I was a little anxious to know whether her ladyship would honour me with an agnomen.

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