Where does “pseudonym” come from?
Pseudonym comes from French pseudonyme, from Ancient Greek ψευδώνυμος, combining ὄνυμα with a root meaning false, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁nómn̥ meaning name.
pseudonym (English): A fictitious name, as those used by writers and...
Definitions
- A fictitious name, as those used by writers and...
Ancestry of “pseudonym”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pseudonymous | Of or pertaining to a pseudonym; Fictitious; That... |
| 2 | French | pseudonyme | pseudonymous, done under a pseudonym; pseudonym |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ψευδώνυμος | under a false name, falsely called |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ψευδής | lying, false, untrue; deceived, beguiled |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -ής | adjective suffix |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -ēs | Primarily forms adjectival bahuvrīhi compounds |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -ess | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -os | Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;... |