#eponyms

[wronghands1]

[lingthusiasm]

Bonus 104: What's in a nym? Synonyms, antonyms, and so many more | Lingthusiasm

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Bonus 104: What's in a nym? Synonyms, antonyms, and so many more

You might have learned about synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, and acronyms in school. But do you know about... autoantonyms, contronyms, hypernyms, hyponyms, metonyms, eponyms, anonyms, backronyms, matronyms, patronyms, retronyms, endonyms, exonyms, toponyms, telonyms, demonyms, razzonyms, oikonyms, AND phantonyms?

In this bonus episode, Lauren and Gretchen get enthusiastic about our favourite words ending in nym! Okay, technically it's -onym (Greek for name, it's the same root as the beginning of onomatopoeia), but nym feels catchier. We talk about how there are so many kinds of nym words that are weirder and wackier than classic synonyms and antonyms, how even synonyms and antonyms aren't quite as straightforward as they seem, and why retronyms make people mad but are Gretchen's absolute favourite. Plus: a tiny quiz segment on our favourite obscure and cool-sounding nyms!

Listen to this episode about our favourite words ending in nym, and get access to many more bonus episodes by supporting Lingthusiasm on Patreon.

[great-and-small]

One of the more esoteric things that I am really really into is reptile eponyms, and since it’s a topic that most people aren’t very familiar with, I want to share just a couple with you:

The skink species Lerista amicorum was discovered and named by a pair of Australian zoologists who are also best friends. The species name is Latin for “of the friends” in honor of their friendship and discovery together

The gecko species Lepidodactylus buleli was named in an article describing the new species in 2006, but nobody knows what the species name “bulel” is referencing. The etymology states “The specific epithet buleli is given by the author as a reference to a personal and private story and has no particular signification related to the species, its characteristics, geographical origin, or biology.” Some sort of scientist inside joke I guess you had to be there

There is a species of death adder with the proposed* name Acanthophis crotalusei which is in honor of the author’s pet dog, Crotalus. In case you didn’t know, Crotalus is the name of a completely different genus of snake, so using it for a death adder is unforgivably confusing. (*There is some very complicated herpetology drama behind this story)

The Martin Garcia least gecko Sphaerodactylus ladae is named in honor of the discoverers rental car, a Russian LADA.

[sweetthingshavesharpteeth]

[teachingrounds]

Have you ever wondered why we call aseptic avascular necrosis of the hip "Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease"? According to whonamedit.com, Czech-Austrian surgeon Karel Maydl (1853-1903) first described the condition in 1897, and then Legg, Calve, and Perthes simultaneously published about it in 1910 in English, French, and German, and so they share the name and the credit. Poor Maydl got the shaft, and medical students have to memorize a non-descript tongue twister.

Image: Sampson S, Long-Standing Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-91065

[khittyhawk]

Pet peeve: words that sound like they should be derived from some sensible etymology, but no, they’re named for some dumbass. For example:

sideburns: they go on the side of your face! maybe they look kinda like they’re wreathing your face in fire or some shit! but no, they’re actually named for the US Civil War general Ambrose Burnside

volt: this measurement of electricity (keeping the definition vague because ho boy) sounds similar to “jolt” or an electrical onomatopoeia like “zap”. Nope! Named for some Italian asshole named Volta

shrapnel: You would think, of all things, this would be a metathesis of “sharp” and maybe the diminutive suffix “-el” for ‘small bits of sharp things that go flying everywhere’. but no. No, it’s named for Gen. Henry Shrapnel. Christ, that’s as bad as Agnes Nutter, and that name’s a deliberate parody of eponyms!

[skuzz]

This was a really fun project to work on, and I can’t wait to share it. The illustration depicts 11 venous eponyms, showing their various locations around and within the brain. It’s part of an article that pays homage to the fathers of neuroanatomy and their invaluable contributions to medicine. I think I’m going to print some posters of this illustration down the road. Let me know if you’d like one, and I’ll message you when I print them. #venous #eponyms #anatomist #neurosurgeons # neuroanatomy #brain poster #medicalartist #scienceartist #Wacomcintiq #digitaltablet #digitalartists #anatomists #neuroscientific #neurosurgical #brainsurgeons #medicinehistory #medicalhistory #scienceart #medicaleducation #neurological #vasculature #brainscience #brainart #posterprints (at Phoenix, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDMLwbpnfsH/?igshid=52mbgsy3msck

[murphysmedical]

Legg-Calve-Perthes disease? If it took three of you to find it, maybe you don't deserve to have it named after you.

Roomie, at it again with the medical eponym sass