Johnsonian

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Of or pertaining to Samuel Johnson, the 18th-century English writer, lexicographer, and critic ; of or pertaining to Andrew Johnson, the 17th U.S. president ; of or pertaining to Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th U.S. president
2. Characteristic of or associated with Samuel Johnson's literary style, wisdom, or influence ; characteristic of or associated with Andrew Johnson's administration or political period ; characteristic of or associated with Lyndon B. Johnson's administration or political initiatives
3. Belonging to the era, ideas, or manner of Samuel Johnson ; belonging to the era, ideas, or manner of Andrew Johnson ; belonging to the era, ideas, or manner of Lyndon B. Johnson

Etymology: Samuel Johnson, the lexicographer who compiled the first major English dictionary, gave his name to an adjective that describes his particular manner of writing and speaking: weighty, balanced, and laced with Latinate vocabulary. The adjective is formed simply by adding the suffix "-ian" to his surname, the same pattern that produces words like "Shakespearean" or "Chaucerian" from the names of authors. The suffix "-ian" comes from Latin "-ianus," which forms adjectives meaning "belonging to" or "associated with" a person or place. English has long used it this way, so "Johnsonian" follows an ordinary path: a proper name becomes a descriptive term for a style, a character, or a body of work connected with that person.