[ad. L. cognōminātiōn-em, n. of action (cited only in sense 2) f. cognōmināre: see prec. and -ATION.] 1. The action of cognominating or naming.
1623. Cockeram, Cognomination, a naming.
1649. Bulwer, Pathomyot., Pref. 3. A generall Survey and Cognomination of the Muscles of the Body.
2. concr. = COGNOMEN. [so L.]
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. viii. 246. Pompey had deserved the name of Great; Alexander of the same cognomination was Generalissimo of Greece.
1843. Borrow, Bible in Spain, xiv. (1872), 86. It is one of the private cognominations of ‘The Smiths.’
† 3. Affinity of terms applied. Obs. rare–1.
a. 1679. Hobbes, Rhet., II. xxiv. (1840), 478. Another place may be from cognomination, or affinity of words.
