cognomen Latin · revision 31211

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₃neh₃-mn̥}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [kɔŋˈnoː.mɛn]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [koɲˈɲɔː.men]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cognōmen''' ''n'' (genitive cognōminis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|con-|t=with]] and [[m|la|nōmen|t=name]], with a /g/ taken over from [[m|la|cognōscō|t=to recognize]], as in [[m|la|agnōmen]].^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The TLL notes that it was felt both as a derivative of ⟨cognōscō⟩ and as containing ⟨nōmen⟩, and Isidore says it is so called because it is joined to the gentile name.^(TLL)^(Isidore) De Vaan derives ⟨nōmen⟩ from [[itc-pro|*nōmn̥]] and [[ine-pro|*h₃neh₃-mn̥|t=name]], cognate with [[sa|नामन्|tr=nā́man-|t=name]], [[grc|ὄνομα|tr=ónoma|t=name]], [[sga|ainm|t=name]] and [[hit|lāman-|t=name]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus;^(de Vaan 2008) the OLD's earliest example is the Lex repetundarum of 123/122 BC, which requires each juror's father, tribe and ''cognōmen'' to be stated.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the surname of a family or person, usually the third part of a citizen's name, after the ''praenōmen'' and the ''nōmen'' of the gens, and often taken from a personal feature;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero uses it of Greeks and other foreigners.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also an extra title of a god or name of a thing, as Virgil's twin plagues “called the Dirae”, and a nickname, as Nepos' Aristides, “called the Just” for his integrity.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Pliny the Elder uses it for the further name of a people or place and of a variety of plant or fruit, and Virgil for a name derived from someone, as the people named after Tiburtus.^(OLD 2012) English [[m|en|cognomen]] is recorded in 1754 for a distinguishing name and in 1809 for a surname.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 123/122 BC – the Lex repetundarum of a juror's surname.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the surnames of Greeks.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 100–24 BC – Nepos of Aristides “the Just”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1754 – English [[m|en|cognomen]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|surname]], family name; the third part of a Roman name.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An additional title (of a god or thing); a [[m|en|nickname]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A further name of a people, place or plant variety.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A name derived from someone.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cognōmentum]]

+ * [[cognōminis]]

+ * [[cognōminō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[agnōmen]]

+ * [[nōmen]]

+ * [[praenōmen]]

+ * [[prōnōmen]]

+ * [[cognōscō]]

+ * [[en|cognomen]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis and Short describe it as usually the third of a citizen's names, after the ''nōmen'' of the gens, sometimes followed by a fourth, the ''agnōmen''.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Etymonline calls it the last of the three names by which a Roman was known.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}