cognomen
    n 1: a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of
         a person's given name); "Joe's mother would not use his
         nickname and always called him Joseph"; "Henry's nickname
         was Slim" [syn: nickname, moniker, cognomen,
         sobriquet, soubriquet, byname]
    2: the name used to identify the members of a family (as
       distinguished from each member's given name) [syn: surname,
       family name, cognomen, last name]

Name \Name\ (n[=a]m), n. [AS. nama; akin to D. naam, OS. & OHG.
   namo, G. name, Icel. nafn, for namn, Dan. navn, Sw. namn,
   Goth. nam[=o], L. nomen (perh. influenced by noscere,
   gnoscere, to learn to know), Gr. 'o`mona, Scr. n[=a]man.
   [root]267. Cf. Anonymous, Ignominy, Misnomer,
   Nominal, Noun.]
   1. The title by which any person or thing is known or
      designated; a distinctive specific appellation, whether of
      an individual or a class.
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            Whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that
            was the name thereof.                 --Gen. ii. 19.
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            What's in a name? That which we call a rose
            By any other name would smell as sweet. --Shak.
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   2. A descriptive or qualifying appellation given to a person
      or thing, on account of a character or acts.
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            His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The
            mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of
            Peace.                                --Is. ix. 6.
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   3. Reputed character; reputation, good or bad; estimation;
      fame; especially, illustrious character or fame; honorable
      estimation; distinction.
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            What men of name resort to him?       --Shak.
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            Far above . . . every name that is named, not only
            in this world, but also in that which is to come.
                                                  --Eph. i. 21.
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            I will get me a name and honor in the kingdom. --1
                                                  Macc. iii. 14.
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            He hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin.
                                                  --Deut. xxii.
                                                  19.
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            The king's army . . . had left no good name behind.
                                                  --Clarendon.
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   4. Those of a certain name; a race; a family.
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            The ministers of the republic, mortal enemies of his
            name, came every day to pay their feigned
            civilities.                           --Motley.
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   5. A person, an individual. [Poetic]
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            They list with women each degenerate name. --Dryden.
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   Christian name.
      (a) The name a person receives at baptism, as
          distinguished from surname; baptismal name; in
          western countries, it is also called a first name.
      (b) A given name, whether received at baptism or not.

   Given name. See under Given.

   In name, in profession, or by title only; not in reality;
      as, a friend in name.

   In the name of.
      (a) In behalf of; by the authority of. " I charge you in
          the duke's name to obey me."            --Shak.
      (b) In the represented or assumed character of. "I'll to
          him again in name of Brook."            --Shak.

   Name plate, a plate as of metal, glass, etc., having a name
      upon it, as a sign; a doorplate.

   Pen name, a name assumed by an author; a pseudonym or nom
      de plume. --Bayard Taylor.

   Proper name (Gram.), a name applied to a particular person,
      place, or thing.

   To call names, to apply opprobrious epithets to; to call by
      reproachful appellations.

   To take a name in vain, to use a name lightly or profanely;
      to use a name in making flippant or dishonest oaths. --Ex.
      xx. 7.
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   Syn: Appellation; title; designation; cognomen; denomination;
        epithet.

   Usage: Name, Appellation, Title, Denomination. Name
          is generic, denoting that combination of sounds or
          letters by which a person or thing is known and
          distinguished. Appellation, although sometimes put for
          name simply, denotes, more properly, a descriptive
          term (called also agnomen or cognomen), used by
          way of marking some individual peculiarity or
          characteristic; as, Charles the Bold, Philip the
          Stammerer. A title is a term employed to point out
          one's rank, office, etc.; as, the Duke of Bedford,
          Paul the Apostle, etc. Denomination is to particular
          bodies what appellation is to individuals; thus, the
          church of Christ is divided into different
          denominations, as Congregationalists, Episcopalians,
          Presbyterians, etc.
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Cognomen \Cog*no"men\, n. [L.: co- + (g)nomen name.]
   1. The last of the three names of a person among the ancient
      Romans, denoting his house or family.
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   2. (Eng. Law) A surname.
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COGNOMEN. A Latin word, which signifies a family name. The praenomen among 
the Romans distinguished the person, the nomen, the gens, or all the kindred 
descended from a remote common stock through males, while the cognomen 
denoted the particular family. The agnomen was added on account of some 
particular event, as a further distinction. Thus, in the designation Publius 
Cornelius Scipio Africanus, Publius is the proenomen, Cornelius is the 
nomen, Scipio the cognomen, and Africanus the agnomen. Vicat. These several 
terms occur frequently in the Roman laws. See Cas. temp. Hardw. 286; 1 Tayl. 
148. See Name; Surname.