cognomen

Other forms: cognomens; cognomina

Definitions of cognomen
  1. noun
    the name used to identify the members of a family (as distinguished from each member's given name)
    synonyms: family name, last name, surname
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    types:
    maiden name
    a woman's surname before marriage
    type of:
    name
    a language unit by which a person or thing is known
  2. noun
    a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of a person's given name)
    synonyms: byname, moniker, nickname, sobriquet, soubriquet
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    type of:
    appellation, appellative, denomination, designation
    identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others
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