Agnomens

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A supplementary name or epithet added to a person's original name to signify a particular quality or achievement
2. A classification or descriptor that enhances an individual's identity beyond their primary name
3. An additional title or term that conveys specific traits or accomplishments associated with a person

Etymology: The plural "agnomens" is simply the regular English plural of "agnomen," a noun borrowed from Latin "agnōmen." Its parts are "ad-" (toward, added to) and "nōmen" (name), so the word literally means something added to a name. In Rome, a man's full name could include a praenomen, nomen and cognomen, and an agnomen was an extra epithet attached to that name, often earned through a deed or a notable trait. Roman figures such as Scipio Africanus, who won the title after his campaigns in North Africa, are classic examples of men who acquired such additions.