Is there a word for when something's name completely fits the description or personality?





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for example in a story i'm writing, there is a character named Revenge who's main goal is to get revenge. Is there a single word for that?










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  • Someone had the term for it here yesterday, but they were misusing term and I've forgotten what it is.

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:05






  • 1





    Ah, here it is: autological.

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:08











  • But I've forgotten it again! (You have my permission to craft your own answer.)

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:24








  • 1





    @HotLicks An autological word describes the word itself, not the referent for the word. The word 'short' is autological because the word 'short' is short. The name of a person which describes the person accurately is not describing the name but the person. It is appropriate or apropos (though I am sure there is a more specific word for the situation).

    – Mitch
    Mar 26 at 2:52


















2















for example in a story i'm writing, there is a character named Revenge who's main goal is to get revenge. Is there a single word for that?










share|improve this question























  • Someone had the term for it here yesterday, but they were misusing term and I've forgotten what it is.

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:05






  • 1





    Ah, here it is: autological.

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:08











  • But I've forgotten it again! (You have my permission to craft your own answer.)

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:24








  • 1





    @HotLicks An autological word describes the word itself, not the referent for the word. The word 'short' is autological because the word 'short' is short. The name of a person which describes the person accurately is not describing the name but the person. It is appropriate or apropos (though I am sure there is a more specific word for the situation).

    – Mitch
    Mar 26 at 2:52














2












2








2








for example in a story i'm writing, there is a character named Revenge who's main goal is to get revenge. Is there a single word for that?










share|improve this question














for example in a story i'm writing, there is a character named Revenge who's main goal is to get revenge. Is there a single word for that?







single-word-requests synonyms names story






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asked Mar 26 at 2:03









AnnaAnna

111




111













  • Someone had the term for it here yesterday, but they were misusing term and I've forgotten what it is.

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:05






  • 1





    Ah, here it is: autological.

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:08











  • But I've forgotten it again! (You have my permission to craft your own answer.)

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:24








  • 1





    @HotLicks An autological word describes the word itself, not the referent for the word. The word 'short' is autological because the word 'short' is short. The name of a person which describes the person accurately is not describing the name but the person. It is appropriate or apropos (though I am sure there is a more specific word for the situation).

    – Mitch
    Mar 26 at 2:52



















  • Someone had the term for it here yesterday, but they were misusing term and I've forgotten what it is.

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:05






  • 1





    Ah, here it is: autological.

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:08











  • But I've forgotten it again! (You have my permission to craft your own answer.)

    – Hot Licks
    Mar 26 at 2:24








  • 1





    @HotLicks An autological word describes the word itself, not the referent for the word. The word 'short' is autological because the word 'short' is short. The name of a person which describes the person accurately is not describing the name but the person. It is appropriate or apropos (though I am sure there is a more specific word for the situation).

    – Mitch
    Mar 26 at 2:52

















Someone had the term for it here yesterday, but they were misusing term and I've forgotten what it is.

– Hot Licks
Mar 26 at 2:05





Someone had the term for it here yesterday, but they were misusing term and I've forgotten what it is.

– Hot Licks
Mar 26 at 2:05




1




1





Ah, here it is: autological.

– Hot Licks
Mar 26 at 2:08





Ah, here it is: autological.

– Hot Licks
Mar 26 at 2:08













But I've forgotten it again! (You have my permission to craft your own answer.)

– Hot Licks
Mar 26 at 2:24







But I've forgotten it again! (You have my permission to craft your own answer.)

– Hot Licks
Mar 26 at 2:24






1




1





@HotLicks An autological word describes the word itself, not the referent for the word. The word 'short' is autological because the word 'short' is short. The name of a person which describes the person accurately is not describing the name but the person. It is appropriate or apropos (though I am sure there is a more specific word for the situation).

– Mitch
Mar 26 at 2:52





@HotLicks An autological word describes the word itself, not the referent for the word. The word 'short' is autological because the word 'short' is short. The name of a person which describes the person accurately is not describing the name but the person. It is appropriate or apropos (though I am sure there is a more specific word for the situation).

– Mitch
Mar 26 at 2:52










1 Answer
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A modern term is aptonym. It is a play on “apt” (appropriate) and the “-onym” root for name. It is usually for jobs or qualities, not just personalities. Like a person named John Cooke who is a chef, or Usain Bolt is the fastest sprinter.






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  • Should link to the dictionary url for OP's perusal.

    – Ubi hatt
    Mar 26 at 5:27











  • Shouldn't that be "aptronym"?

    – KillingTime
    Mar 26 at 6:07











  • As seen in the link, either one. It’s a portmanteau.

    – Damila
    Mar 26 at 13:37












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1 Answer
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active

oldest

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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









0














A modern term is aptonym. It is a play on “apt” (appropriate) and the “-onym” root for name. It is usually for jobs or qualities, not just personalities. Like a person named John Cooke who is a chef, or Usain Bolt is the fastest sprinter.






share|improve this answer
























  • Should link to the dictionary url for OP's perusal.

    – Ubi hatt
    Mar 26 at 5:27











  • Shouldn't that be "aptronym"?

    – KillingTime
    Mar 26 at 6:07











  • As seen in the link, either one. It’s a portmanteau.

    – Damila
    Mar 26 at 13:37
















0














A modern term is aptonym. It is a play on “apt” (appropriate) and the “-onym” root for name. It is usually for jobs or qualities, not just personalities. Like a person named John Cooke who is a chef, or Usain Bolt is the fastest sprinter.






share|improve this answer
























  • Should link to the dictionary url for OP's perusal.

    – Ubi hatt
    Mar 26 at 5:27











  • Shouldn't that be "aptronym"?

    – KillingTime
    Mar 26 at 6:07











  • As seen in the link, either one. It’s a portmanteau.

    – Damila
    Mar 26 at 13:37














0












0








0







A modern term is aptonym. It is a play on “apt” (appropriate) and the “-onym” root for name. It is usually for jobs or qualities, not just personalities. Like a person named John Cooke who is a chef, or Usain Bolt is the fastest sprinter.






share|improve this answer













A modern term is aptonym. It is a play on “apt” (appropriate) and the “-onym” root for name. It is usually for jobs or qualities, not just personalities. Like a person named John Cooke who is a chef, or Usain Bolt is the fastest sprinter.







share|improve this answer












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answered Mar 26 at 4:43









DamilaDamila

5797




5797













  • Should link to the dictionary url for OP's perusal.

    – Ubi hatt
    Mar 26 at 5:27











  • Shouldn't that be "aptronym"?

    – KillingTime
    Mar 26 at 6:07











  • As seen in the link, either one. It’s a portmanteau.

    – Damila
    Mar 26 at 13:37



















  • Should link to the dictionary url for OP's perusal.

    – Ubi hatt
    Mar 26 at 5:27











  • Shouldn't that be "aptronym"?

    – KillingTime
    Mar 26 at 6:07











  • As seen in the link, either one. It’s a portmanteau.

    – Damila
    Mar 26 at 13:37

















Should link to the dictionary url for OP's perusal.

– Ubi hatt
Mar 26 at 5:27





Should link to the dictionary url for OP's perusal.

– Ubi hatt
Mar 26 at 5:27













Shouldn't that be "aptronym"?

– KillingTime
Mar 26 at 6:07





Shouldn't that be "aptronym"?

– KillingTime
Mar 26 at 6:07













As seen in the link, either one. It’s a portmanteau.

– Damila
Mar 26 at 13:37





As seen in the link, either one. It’s a portmanteau.

– Damila
Mar 26 at 13:37


















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