Word |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
Part of Speech |
Definition |
brainiac
Eponyms |
BRAY-knee-ack |
|
a very intelligent person |
Ex.
Ex. 2.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Her son is a brainiac when it comes to computers.
Video game companies employ armies of brainiacs to do the best graphic design work.
From Braniac, superintelligent villain in Superman. Brainiac first appeared in Action Comics #242 (July 1958).
Eponyms | Likely Literary
|
lothario
Eponym |
lo-THER-ee-oh |
|
a man whose chief interest is seducing women |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes:
|
Don't let his dashing looks deceive you - he's nothing more than a conniving lothario with no interest in a long-term commitment.
From Lothario, character in Nicholas Rowe's 1703 play The Fair Penitent.
Eponyms | High-Falutin' Insults | Likely Literary | There's A Word For That?
|
sapphic
Greek
Eponym |
SAF-ik |
adjective |
1. capitalized: of or relating to the Greek poet Sappho
2. lesbian |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
The inclusion of a sapphic romantic subplot lent the play an unusual allure.
From the Greek lyric poetess Sappho, who lived on the isle of Lesbos c. 600 B.C.
Eponyms | Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words
|
|
tom-FOO-luh-ree, -FOOL-ree |
|
the action or behavior of a tomfool; playful or foolish behavior; silly trifling |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Mother got so fed up with the neighbors' tomfoolery that she up and moved.
From the Middle English nickname Thom Foole, given to any half-witted man.
Eponyms, Sounds Silly
|
