Speaking Of Eponyms

Speaking Of Eponyms Speaking Of Eponyms Speaking Of Eponyms By Sharon My first introduction to the concept of eponyms was in high school. My English teacher talked about the eponymous heroine, meaning the protagonist after whom the book was named. Examples include Jane Eyre and Silas Marner. An eponym is a word that is formed from the name of a person. A famous example is the word sandwich, named after the Earl of Sandwich, but there are hundreds more. We seem to like this type of word association and eponyms crop up in all fields. Here are some examples: Laws Asimovs Three Laws Of Robotics The Dilbert Principle: the most ineffective workers are systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage: management. Faradays law of electrolysis Heisenbergs Uncertainty Principle Newtons laws of motion Trademarks Many generic words were once trademarks, including: Aspirin Brassiere Cellophane Escalator Granola Gunk Heroin Jungle Gym Kerosene Linoleum Saran Wrap Shredded Wheat Tabloid Yo-yo Zipper There are also several trademarks still in use that are also used generically, including: Alka Seltzer Band Aid Breathalyzer Coke Dumpster Frisbee Jello Kleenex Play-Doh Q-Tip Styrofoam Superglue Valium Vaseline Others algorithm, from Al-Khwarizm, a mathematician Celsius, named after Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius derringer, from gunsmith Henry Derringer Granny Smith apples, from an Australian apple breeder leotard, from trapeze artist Jules Leotard Henry Laurence Gantt gave us the Gantt chart Gerard Kuiper gives his name to the Kuiper Belt If you still want more eponyms, then check out medical eponyms, such as Alzheimers, as well as lists from others who have collected eponyms. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals50 Idioms About Meat and Dairy ProductsPhrasal Verbs and Phrasal Nouns