cognomen

[kog-noh-muh n]

See more synonyms for cognomen on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural cog·no·mens, cog·nom·i·na

[kog-nom-uh-nuh] /kɒgˈnɒm ə nə/.

a surname.
any name, especially a nickname.
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).

Origin of cognomen

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

Related formscog·nom·i·nal

[kog-nom-uh-nuh l, -noh-muh-] /kɒgˈnɒm ə nəl, -ˈnoʊ mə-/, adjectivecog·nom·i·nal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for cognomen

handle, title, epithet, surname, moniker, nickname

Examples from the Web for cognomen

Historical Examples of cognomen

Swamp Fox was the cognomen bestowed on Marion by the British.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 6 June 1848
Various
The cognomen was put last, and marked the family; as Cicero, Csar.
Roman Antiquities, and Ancient Mythology
Charles K. Dillaway
But when you and I are talking, let us give the Italian cognomen a rest.
A Pirate of Parts
Richard Neville
In these parts I know only one person who carries that cognomen—one Charles Clancy.
The Death Shot
Mayne Reid
Unlearn him his own cognomen,—teach him another name,—too late, too late.
What Will He Do With It, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for cognomen

cognomen

noun plural -nomens or -nomina (-ˈnɒmɪnə, -ˈnəʊ-)

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

Derived Formscognominal (kɒɡˈnɒmɪnəl, -ˈnəʊ-), adjectivecognominally, adverb

Word Origin for cognomen

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cognomen

1809, from Latin com- "with" (see co-) + (g)nomen "name" (see name (n.)). Third or family name of a Roman citizen (Caius Julius Cæsar).