274 On Praper Names ^ 



tinctly traced, but this may probably arise from their having 

 belonged to families of the aboriginal or surrounding inhabit- 

 ants, where a different language was spoken. In the course 

 of time they increased the number of appellatives which com- 

 posed each name ; many of them comprising three or four 

 separate words. The usual distinction of these separate terms 

 was into prcenomen, nomen, and agnomen or cognomen, for 

 these two words seem to be nearly synonymous. Thus Marcus^ 

 Tullius Cicero ; Publius iEmilius Pauhis ; here Publius is the 

 praenomen, ^milius the nomen, and Paulus the cognomen. 

 The last of these was commonly indicative of some attribute, 

 peculiarity, or achievement, as Paukis, very little ; Scipio, a 

 staff; Africanus, the conqueror of Africa ; Cato, inferior. 

 The few following Roman cognoinina, agnomina, or surnames, 

 taken promiscuously from the. Rgmg-n history, will shew how 

 inferior they are to those of the. Greek in melody, magnifi- 

 cence, and especially in what may be termed poetical or pic- 

 turesque significance. - • . . 



Cicero . . . . , a vetch or lentil. 



Naso . . ... a nose. 



Scipio a staff. 



Flaccus flap-eared. 



Paulus ..... small. 



Brutus . . « . • brutish or stupid. 



Crassus fat or gross. 



Priscus old, ancient. 



Claudius from claudus, lame. 



Faliscus a black pudding. 



Macerinus .... lean. 



Cossus .... a worm. 



Cassius .... from cassus, vain. 



Figulus .... a potter. 



Most of these names, it is apparent, must have been con* 

 ferred in caprice, derision, or from some frivolous circumstance 

 or casualty not calculated to confer any dignity on the person 

 named, or to raise any very pleasing or impressive association 

 on the mind of the hearer. The case is very different with 

 those magnificent and grandiloquent names conferred in con- 

 sequence of some great conquest or illustrious transaction, as 

 Africanus, Britannicus, Poplicola, Capitolinus. When only 



