metronymic
- noun
- /ˌmɛtrəˈnɪmɪk/
- Specialized
- Her last name is a metronymic that honors her mother.
Examples
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In some cultures, children receive a metronymic rather than a patronymic surname.
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The study of metronymics reveals patterns of matrilineal descent in naming traditions.
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Her surname is a metronymic passed down from her maternal grandmother.
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In some cultures, a metronymic is preferred over a patronymic.
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Her surname is a metronymic passed down from her maternal grandmother.
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In some cultures, children receive a metronymic rather than a patronymic surname.
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In some cultures, a metronymic is preferred over a patronymic.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A last name taken from a person's mother
Surface Forms
Morphology
metronymic = metronym (semi-transparent) = metronym + ic
Formed by the regular adjectival suffix '-ic' on 'metronym', but 'metronym' and its components are rare and may be unfamiliar to many learners.
Etymology
The word metronymic comes from an old Greek word mētēr meaning 'mother' and the part -nym meaning 'name', as in synonym. So a metronymic is a name taken from your mother rather than your father.