Eponyms Flashcards
(14 cards)
Mesmerize
Franz Mesmer,an Austrian physician, was renowned for
hypnotizing people.
Today, we have the word mesmerize, which doesn’t necessarily mean to hypnotize (though it could), but is used figuratively and means to hold spellbound.
The plot and the characters were so well developed that many viewers were mesmerized, unable to move their eyes from the screen for even a single second.
Gerrymander
Elbridge Gerry, presiden of usa with a plan to split city to win
Today the use of gerrymander hasn’t changed too much, and ** refers to the manipulation of boundaries to favor a certain group.**
Years ago, savvy politicians had gerrymandered the city center to ensure their re-election.
Hector
the word hector means to bully or intimidate.
In Homer’s Iliad, Hector, the eldest son of King Priam of Troy, was a model soldier, son, father, and friend, the champion of the Trojan army until he was killed by the Greek hero Achilles. So how did his name become a verb meaning “to intimidate or harrass”? That use was likely influenced by gangs of rowdy street toughs who roamed London in the 17th century and called themselves “Hectors.” They may have thought themselves gallant young blades, but to the general populace they were swaggering bullies who intimidated passersby and vandalized property.
- The boss’s hectoring manner put off many employees, some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs.
Pollyannaish
Eleanor Porter who came up with a character named Pollyanna. Pollyanna was extremely optimistic and so it is no surprise that Pollyannaish means extremely optimistic.
Even in the midst of a lousy sales quarter, Debbie remained Pollyannaish, never losing her shrill voice and wide smile, even when prospective customers hung up on her.
Chauvinist
Well, Nicolas Chauvin, a one-time recruit in Napoleon’s army, used to go about town, thumping his chest about how great France was. In its modern day incantation, chauvinism can also mean anyone who thinks that their group is better than anybody else’s group. You can have male chauvinists,
political party chauvinists, and even female chauvinists.
The chauvinist lives on both sides of the political spectrum, outright shunning anybody whose ideas are not consistent with his own.
Pyrrhic
King Pyrrhus had the unfortunate luck of going up against the Romans. Some would say that he was actually lucky in that he actually defeated the Romans in the Battle of Asculum. Pyrrhic was perhaps more ambivalent, quipping, “One more such victory will undo me.”
So any win that comes at so great a cost that it is not even worth it is a pyrrhic victory.
You perish while winning.
You win… but at such a terrible price, it hardly feels like winning.
*George W. Bush’s win in the 2000 election was in many ways a pyrrhic victory: the circumstances of his win alienated close to half of America.
🔹 Though the army captured the city, it was a Pyrrhic victory — half their soldiers were dead.
🔹 She won the lawsuit, but the stress and financial strain made it feel Pyrrhic.
🔹 Getting the promotion turned out to be a Pyrrhic success — it ruined his friendships and health.*
Kafkaesque
By day, Franz Kafka filed papers at an insurance office, and by night churned out dark novels, which suggested that the quotidian world of the office was actually far more sinister. Mainly, his novels were known for the absurd predicaments of their main characters (who often went by nothing more than a single initial).
Today, we have the word Kafkaesque, that refers to the absurdity we have to deal with living in a world of faceless bureaucracies. So next time you are put on hold for three hours and then volleyed back in forth between a dozen monotone-voice employees, think to yourself, hey this is Kafkaesque.
extremely unpleasant, frightening, and confusing,
The process of applying for a passport was so Kafkaesque that Charles ultimately decided not to take a vacation.
Quixotic
Don Quixote is perhaps one of the most well-known characters in all of literature. I suppose there is something heartbreaking yet comical at a man past his prime who believes he is on some great mission to save the world. In fact, Don Quixote was so far off his rocker that he thought windmills were
dragons.
As a word that means somebody who mistakes windmills for dragons would have a severely limited application, quixotic has taken the broader meaning of someone who is wildly idealistic. It is one thing to want to help end world hunger; it is another to think you can do so on your own. The latter would be
deemed quixotic.
quick + exotic = day dream
For every thousand startups with quixotic plans to be the next big thing in e-commerce, only a handful ever become profitable.
Maudlin
Mary Magdalene was the most important female disciple of Jesus. After Jesus had been crucified, she wept at his tomb.
From this outward outpouring of emotion, we today have the word maudlin. Whereas Mary’s weeping was noble, maudlin has taken on a negative connotation. A person who is maudlin cries in public for no good reason, and is oftentimes times used to describe one who’s tried to finish a jeroboam alone, and now must share with the stranger sitting next to them all of his deepest feelings.
Overly sentimental, especially in a tearful or self-pitying way.
🔹 After his third glass of wine, he became maudlin and started crying about his ex.
🔹 The movie was so maudlin, it felt like it was begging for tears.
🔹 Her maudlin speech about “never giving up” came off as more cringeworthy than inspiring.
Panglossian
Interestingly, there is another eponym for literature that has a very similar meaning: Panglossian. Derived from Dr. Pangloss from Voltaire’s Candide, Panglossian carries a negative connotation, implying blind optimism.
*Despite the fact that his country had been marred by a protracted civil war, Victor remained ever Panglossian, claiming that his homeland was living through a Golden Age.
The Panglossian view that technology will solve all problems.
*
Malapropism
Ms. Malaprop was a character in a play called The Rivals by the largely forgotten Richard Brinsley Sheridan. She was known for mixing up similar sounding words, usually to comic effect. Indeed, she would utter the words with complete aplomb that those listening were unsure if she’d even mixed up words in the first place. Her favorite Spanish dance was the flamingo (note: the dance in question is the flamenco; a flamingo is a salmon-colored bird known both for its elegance and tackiness).
GRE malapropisms aren’t quite so silly as Ms. Malaprop mixing up a bird and a Spanish dance, but I’ll do my best. See if you can spot the GRE malapropisms below.
The graffiti artist was indicated for defecating the church with gang signs.
Picasso was a protein artist, able to mix elements of African art with the oven guard.
mal (negative) + prop = impropeer usage of prop
mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one
The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect.
🔹 Saying “dance a flamingo” instead of “flamenco” is a classic malapropism.
🔹 He warned of creating a “domino’s effect,” a malapropism that amused the entire class.
🔹 Her speech was filled with malapropisms, making her sound more confused than convincing.
Quisling
We’ve all heard of the Nazis. Some of you may have even heard of the Vichy government, which was a puppet regime set up by the Nazis in France during WWII. Few of us, however, know that Germany also tried to turn Norway into a puppet regime. In order for Germany to take over Norway, it needed an
inside man, a Norwegian who would sell his country out for the Nazis.
This man was Viktor Quisling. For arrant perfidy, he has been awarded the eponym quisling, which means traitor.
culpriy wuits and link with enemy
History looks unfavorably upon quislings; indeed they are accorded about the same fondness as Nero— he who watched his city burn down while playing the violin.
Byzantine
Okay, I cheated a little on this one. Byzant was not a medieval philosopher (nor an industrious ant). The word byzantine is not derived from a person’s name, but from Byzantium, an ancient city that was part of the Byzantine Empire.
Specifically, Byzantium was known for the intricate patterns adorning its architecture. Bulbous domed turrets were emblazoned with ornate latticing (think of the towers on a Russia church).
anything that is extremely inntricate and complex negative connotation.
Getting a driver’s license is not simply a matter of taking a test; the regulations and procedures are so byzantine that many have found themselves at the mercy of the DMV.
Galvanize
Luigi Galvani was fascinated with electricity
Today, galvanize can mean to shock but in a different sense than through raw electricity. To galvanize is to shock or urge somebody/something into action.
The colonel’s speech galvanized the troops, who had all but given up.
