Dictionary

autonym en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɑdn̩ɪm/ (US) without the cot–caught merger
• /ˈɔːtənɪm/ (UK)
• /ˈɔdn̩ɪm/ (US)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew Proto-Indo-European *tó- Proto-Hellenic *autós Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón) Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-)lbor. English auto- Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥ Proto-Hellenic *ónomə Ancient Greek ὄνῠμα (ónŭma)der. New Latinbor. English -onym English autonym From auto- (“self”) + -onym (“name”).

Meanings

1. An infraspecific name in which the specific epithet is repeated.
   • Near-synonym: type variety
2. A name used by a group or category of people to refer to themselves or their language, as opposed to a name given to them by other groups.
   • Deutsche is the autonym of the people known in English as Germans.
3. The true name of a person or other entity, especially an author.
   • As a general principle, the heading of the main entry of the book should be in the form in which the book itself is published; that is, if it is published under an autonym let the autonym be given, if under a pseudonym, then let the pseudonym be given, and if the book be anonymous, then let the fact be stated. 1900, Mr. Barnwell, “Cataloging Roundtable”, in Library Journal, page 157:
4. A work published under the author's true name.

Forms

Antonyms

nom de clavier · stage name · nom de Web · xenonym · nom de plume · pseudonym · pen name · alias · nom de guerre · allonym · allonym · exonym

Relateds

autoglossonym · ethnonym · autonymy · autonymic · glossonym · demonym · autonymous · autonymously · autonymically

Synonyms

endonym · selfname · type variety · alethonym · orthonym