Language Matters | From gerrymander to macroning, a short history of eponyms – words coined from people’s names
- Machiavellian is an eponym many will be familiar with; recent ones derive from the names of modern-day politicians such as Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron
- Ukrainians first coined a Macron eponym, its meaning ‘to show you are very worried, and then do nothing’, but the meaning of macroning has taken a darker turn
Coining a word from a person’s name – an eponym – is not a novel idea. In many cases, it is not particularly complimentary.
To be Machiavellian – cunning, opportunist, unscrupulous, manipulative, amoral, especially in politics – comes from Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli’s name, and the political principles and methods of expediency, craftiness and duplicity set forth in his 16th century treatise Il Principe (The Prince).
The early 19th century saw the term gerrymandering formed, a portmanteau of the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts – who redrew voting districts in favour of his party – plus salamander, from the supposed similarity that the shape of a new voting district on a map bore to the animal.
Contemporary politicians are not spared from such word-formation processes.
Angela Merkel, erstwhile chancellor of Germany, was known domestically for her propensity not to speak up on issues until she could gauge widespread political opinion, and with her political positions on major debates, such as gay marriage, being deemed deliberately vague.
