patronymic

[ pa-truh-nim-ik ]
/ ˌpæ trəˈnɪm ɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR patronymic ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Origin of patronymic

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

OTHER WORDS FROM patronymic

pat·ro·nym·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby patronymic

patroness, patronize, patronizing, patronne, patronym, patronymic, patroon, patrón, patsy, patten, patter

Words related to patronymic

term, brand, style, label, flag, signature, sign, nickname, surname, head, tag, rubric, moniker, cognomen, agnomen, pseudonym, appellation, handle, epithet, denomination

Example sentences from the Web for patronymic

British Dictionary definitions for patronymic

patronymic
/ (ˌpætrəˈnɪmɪk) /

adjective

(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

noun

a patronymic name

Word Origin for patronymic

C17: via Late Latin from Greek patronumikos, from patēr father + onoma name