num_pages: 284
description: Coined about a century ago, the term eponym is a product of two Greek words, epi, "on" or "upon, " and onama, "a name." But its broadened meaning, as dictionaries set it out, refers to a word derived from a proper name. A Dictionary of Eponyms explores the origins of hundreds of these everyday words from Argyle socks to zeppelins. Written in an entertaining and anecdotal style, and with a foreword by Edwin Newman, the book includes a brief biography of the individual whose name became associated with an item or concept as well as information on how and when the name entered the language. If you've ever wondered just where the terms like hooker, sideburns, pamphlet, and robot come from, Morton Freeman does more than simply define them - he brings them to life.
language: English
title: A New Dictionary of Eponyms
titlecomplete: A New Dictionary of Eponyms
genres: Reference
ratings_count: 5
publisher: Oxford University Press