Lincolnian

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to or characteristic of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth American president, or his political principles and style
2. Of or pertaining to the 16th United States president Abraham Lincoln, his character, or the ideals he championed
3. Describing something associated with Abraham Lincoln, such as his honest, humble manner or his views on union and freedom

Etymology: Abraham Lincoln's surname gave English this adjective through a simple and very ordinary process: the name "Lincoln" was joined to the suffix "-ian", which forms adjectives meaning "relating to" or "characteristic of" a person or place. Adding "-ian" to a proper name is a common way of turning a person into a descriptor, as with "Shakespearean" or "Darwinian". The result is a word used to describe whatever belongs to, resembles, or is associated with the 16th president of the United States, most often his political philosophy, his speaking style, or his character. A "Lincolnian" approach to a problem, for instance, would be one that echoes his patience, plain eloquence, or insistence on preserving the Union. The formation is transparent, so the word needs no special history beyond the name it is built from.