See also: name-sake

English

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Etymology

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Mid-17th century. Equivalent to name +‎ sake. From the phrase "for (one's) name's sake", first found in Bible translations as a rendering of a Hebrew idiom meaning "to protect one's reputation" or possibly "vouched for by one's reputation." A familiar example is in Psalm 23:3, "he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (King James Bible, 1604).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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namesake (plural namesakes)

  1. An entity that lends its name to another entity.
    Synonym: eponym
    1. A person with the same name as another; often, a parent or the child named after them.
      1. One who is named after another.
        Bill Sr's namesake, Bill Jr, is 30 years younger.
      2. One for whom another is named.
        Synonym: eponym
        Bill Jr's namesake, Bill Sr, is 30 years older.
        • 2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 31, number 4, →DOI, page 493:
          It is the only citation from 1902, and was clearly added to the manuscript at a late stage, being only one of two examples of the dictionary’s namesake actually discovered by Crooke.
  2. (by extension) Something (especially a ship, a building, or a medical condition, symptom, or sign) that is named after someone or something.
    Synonym: eponym

Translations

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Verb

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namesake (third-person singular simple present namesakes, present participle namesaking, simple past and past participle namesaked)

  1. (transitive) To name (somebody) after somebody else.