anonymous English · revision 7090

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1563|origins=grc ἀνώνυμος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈnɒn.ɪ.məs/ ''(UK)''; /əˈnɑ.nə.məs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|anonymus]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[grc|ἀνώνυμος|tr=anṓnumos|t=without a name]], from [[m|grc|ἀν-|tr=an-|t=without]] and onuma, the Aeolic form of [[m|grc|ὄνομα|tr=ónoma|t=name]] (see [[name]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) with [[-ous]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Nameless, of unknown name: 1601, in Holland's translation of Pliny;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) about 1600 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) MWU dates a sense to 1563.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun, a person whose name is not given, it is from 1603.^(OED 1989) Of writings, published without an author's name or of unknown authorship, it is from the 1670s (1676 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Lacking individuality or distinctive features is a modern sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) [[anonymity|alt=Anonymity]] is a 19th-century formation.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1563 – first use (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1601 – nameless.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1603 – an unnamed person (noun).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1676 – of unknown authorship.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of unknown or unnamed origin or authorship: ''an anonymous letter''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not identified by name: ''an anonymous donor''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Lacking individual or distinctive features; [[impersonal]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[anonymously]]

+ * [[anonymousness]]

+ * [[anonym]]

+ * [[anon]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[anomia]]

+ * [[anonymity]]

+ * [[pseudonymous]]

+ * [[name]]

+ * [[synonym]]

+ * [[pseudonym]]

+ * [[acronym]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}