English for Students

Eponyms

Called Eponyms, many words tell interesting tales about their origins.Wittingly or unwittingly, few people and places have left their names for posterity through words that were coined after them. These words are derived from the names of real, fictional, mythical or spurious persons, places or characters, although many of these Eponyms come from the persons surnames.


Here is The List of Eponyms beginning with P.


Pandora’s Box: Noun

A process that generates many complicated problems, once it is begun

Greek mythology tells us that Pandora (the first woman) was sent to the earth with a jar or box of evils and was explicitly warned against opening it. Unable to contain her curiosity, she opened the box and let out all the evils which have since been plaguing the earth. Hope alone remained in the box.


Panic: Noun

Sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, frenzied to hurry to do something

Derived from Greek god Pan, renowned for causing terror


Pyrrhic victory: Adjective

A victory won at too great a cost to be worthwhile for the victor.

Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, defeated the Romans as Asculum in 279 BC but sustained such heavy losses that he is said to have exclaimed: “Another such victory and we are undone".


Pasteurize: Verb

Subject milk, wine etc. to a process of partial sterilization, especially by heating

Derived from French chemist and bacteriologist Louis Pasteur (1822-95_ who devised the process to prevent the spoilage of milk and other liquids


Platonic: Adjective

1. Of or associated with the Greek philosopher Plato or his ideas

2. Of love or friendship that is intimate and affectionate without being sexual

The word comes to us from Plato (427-347BC).

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