Definition

A special name added to a person's name in ancient Rome, usually to honor them for achievements or victories.

Example

Julius Caesar was often referred to by his agnomen, which celebrated his achievements.

Conversation

Did you know that some Roman citizens had an agnomen added to their names?

Yeah, I heard it was often in honor of their military successes.

It's interesting how names could reflect a person's achievements back then.

Totally! It makes me wonder what my agnomen would be if I lived in ancient Rome.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Agnomen → It is formed from "ad-" (meaning to) and "nomen" (meaning name). The term originally referred to an additional name given to a person, often to signify a particular characteristic or achievement, thus meaning an added name.

Memory Tip

Think of 'adding' something ('ad-') to a 'name' ('nomen') — that's why agnomen means an additional name.

Visually Confused Words