autonym

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Graeco-Phrygian *auto-

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-Graeco-Phrygian *ónomə̃

Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥

Proto-Hellenic *ónomə

Ancient Greek ὄνῠμᾰ (ónŭmă)der.

New Latinder.

English -onym

English autonym

From auto- (“self”) + -onym (“name”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɔːtənɪm/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɔdn̩ɪm/, /ˈɑdn̩ɪm/ (without the cot–caught merger)

Noun

autonym (plural autonyms)

1. (taxonomy) An infraspecific name in which the specific epithet is repeated.

   Near-synonym: type variety

2. (linguistics, anthropology) 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.

   Synonyms: endonym, selfname

   Antonyms: exonym, xenonym

   Deutsche is the autonym of the people known in English as Germans.

4. The true name of a person or other entity, especially an author.

   Synonyms: orthonym, alethonym

   Antonyms: pseudonym; allonym; alias; pen name, nom de plume, nom de clavier, nom de Web; stage name; nom de guerre

   • 1900, Mr. Barnwell, “Cataloging Roundtable”, in Library Journal, page 157:

     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.

6. A work published under the author's true name.

   Antonym: allonym

Related terms

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

Translations

a name used by a group or category of people to refer to themselves or their language — see endonym

References

• “autonym”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [aʊ̯toˈnyːm]

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Adjective

autonym (strong nominative masculine singular autonymer, not comparable)

1. autonymous

Declension

Positive forms of autonym (uncomparable)

number & gender	singular	plural
masculine	feminine	neuter
predicative	er ist autonym	sie ist autonym	es ist autonym	sie sind autonym
strong declension (without article)	nominative	autonymer	autonyme	autonymes	autonyme
genitive	autonymen	autonymer	autonymen	autonymer
dative	autonymem	autonymer	autonymem	autonymen
accusative	autonymen	autonyme	autonymes	autonyme
weak declension (with definite article)	nominative	der autonyme	die autonyme	das autonyme	die autonymen
genitive	des autonymen	der autonymen	des autonymen	der autonymen
dative	dem autonymen	der autonymen	dem autonymen	den autonymen
accusative	den autonymen	die autonyme	das autonyme	die autonymen
mixed declension (with indefinite article)	nominative	ein autonymer	eine autonyme	ein autonymes	(keine) autonymen
genitive	eines autonymen	einer autonymen	eines autonymen	(keiner) autonymen
dative	einem autonymen	einer autonymen	einem autonymen	(keinen) autonymen
accusative	einen autonymen	eine autonyme	ein autonymes	(keine) autonymen

Further reading

• “autonym” in Duden online