10 October 2014

agnomen

[ag-noh-muh n]

noun, plural agnomina [ag-nom-uh-nuh]

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’.
Compare cognomen .
2. a nickname.

Origin

1745-1755; < Late Latin, equivalent to ad- ad- + nōmen name, with alteration to ag- through influence of agnōscere; see agnize

Related forms

agnominal [ag-nom-uh-nl], adjective
Dictionary.com

Anagram

no mange
man gone

Today’s aphorism

Death does not exist.

– Edith Piaf

On this day

10 October – World Day Against the Death Penalty.

10 October 1963 – death of Roy Cazaly, Australian Rules football legend, known for his high marks and ruck-work. Immortalised in the song, ‘Up there Cazaly‘, by The Two Man Band (Mike Brady & Peter Sullivan). Born 13 January 1893.

10 October 1963 – death of Édith Piaf, French singer. Born Édith Giovanna Gassion, born 19 December 1915.

10 October 1965 – the ‘Vinland Map’, is presented by Yale University, which claims it was the first known map of America, drawn in 1440 and based on Norseman Leif Eriksson’s discovery of the Americas 500 years before Columbus.