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cognomen definition

cog·no·men (käg nō′mən)

noun pl. cognomens -·no′·mens or cognomina -·nom′i·na (-näm′i nə)

  1. the third or family name of an ancient Roman (Ex.: Marcus Tullius Cicero)
  2. any family name; surname; last name
  3. any name; esp., a nickname

Etymology: L < co-, with + nomen, name: sp. infl. by assoc. with *gnomen < Gr gnōma, mark, token: akin to L gnoscere, know

Related Forms:

  • cognominal cog·nom′i·nal (-näm′i nəl) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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