agnomen
/aɡˈnəʊmən
/noun
A fourth name occasionally given as an honour to an ancient Roman citizen: he earned the agnomen ‘Coriolanus’ by conspicuous bravery in battle...Compare with nomen, cognomen, praenomen.
- Men acquired names from some notable action or occurrence; such was the agnomen, and frequently the cognomen, of the Romans.
- The agnomen Asricanus was bestowed upon Publius Cornelius Scipio, on account of his great achievements in Africa.
- Despite his mystical belief in his luck (hence his agnomen Felix), despite his arrogance and ruthlessness, Sulla never aimed at permanent tyranny.
Origin
Mid 17th century: Latin, from ad 'to' + gnomen, nomen 'name'.