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patronymic

[pa-truh-nim-ik]

Origin

adjective

(of family names) derived from the name of a father or ancestor, especially by the addition of a suffix or prefix indicating descent.

(of a suffix or prefix) indicating descent.

noun

a patronymic name, as Williamson (son of William) or Macdonald (son of Donald).

a family name; surname.

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Patronymic is always a great word to know.

So is quincunx. Does it mean:

an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

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Origin:
1605–15; < Late Latin patrōnymicus < Greek patrōnymikós equivalent to patrṓnym(os) patronymic (see patri-, -onym) + -ikos -ic

Related forms

pat·ro·nym·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To patronymic

Collins

World English Dictionary

patronymic (ˌpætrəˈnɪmɪk)

—*adj*
1.	(of a name) derived from the name of its bearer's father or ancestor. In Western cultures, many surnames are patronymic in origin, as for example Irish names beginning with O' and English names ending with -son; in other cultures, such as Russian, a special patronymic name is used in addition to the surname

—n
2.	a patronymic name

[C17: via Late Latin from Greek patronumikos, from patēr father + onomaname]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

patronymic

1612, from L.L. patronymicum, from neut. of patronymicus "derived from a father's name," from patronymos "named from the father," from pater (gen. patros) "father" + onyma "name."

Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia

patronymic

name derived from that of a father or paternal ancestor, usually by the addition of a suffix or prefix meaning "son." Thus the Scottish name MacDonald originally meant "son of Donald." Usually the "son" affix is attached to a baptismal name, but it is also possible to attach it to the father's occupation (e.g., Clerkson). Sometimes a patronymic is simply the father's given name (Thomas, Edward) or its genitive form (Edwards)

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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Aeacides

Matching Quote

"I know of one who deserves to be called the Tree-hater, and, perhaps, to leave this for a new patronymic to his children. You would think that he had been warned by an oracle that he would be killed by the fall of a tree, and so was resolved to anticipate them."

-Henry David Thoreau

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patronymic

pat·ro·nym·ic