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Where does the word "anonymous" come from? It comes from Greek anōnymos, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "anonymous" come from? It comes from Greek anōnymos, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
Anonymous’s story begins in Greek: anōnymos meant “nameless.” Greek, 'an-', without, plus 'onyma', name. It reached English by 1600s as anonymous. 'Anonymous' as a signature dates from the 1600s. Today, anonymous means of unknown name.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient anōnymos "nameless", Greek, 'an-', without, plus 'onyma', name.
- Stage 2 · English · 1600s anonymous "nameless", 'Anonymous' as a signature dates from the 1600s.