ananym (AN-uh-nim) noun A name formed by reversing letters of another name, often used as a pseudonym.
[From Greek ana- (back) + -onym (name).] Examples: o Talk show host Oprah's production company is named Harpo. o Doctor Seuss (Theodore Geisel) wrote many books under the name Theo LeSeig. o Samuel Butler wrote a satirical novel Erewhon (near reverse of Nowhere). "Rongis was an ananym - so named by an employee of the stagecoach company whose own name was Ali Signor." John McPhee; Rising from the Plains; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1986. This week's theme: words about words. Sponsored by: Want a professional writer's help? Critiques, help with writer's block. Fiction, nonfiction, plays. Free newsletter. Visit http://RoySorrels.com Shop early for a stocking stuffer that can't be beat: Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty! Discover adult-sized handfuls and fun colors: http://puttyworld.com ............................................................................ The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone. -Harriet Beecher Stowe, abolitionist and novelist (1811-1896) Send your comments to (words AT wordsmith.org). For subscriber services, visit http://wordsmith.org/awad/subscriber.html Pronunciation: http://wordsmith.org/words/ananym.wav http://wordsmith.org/words/ananym.ram Permalink: http://wordsmith.org/words/ananym.html This message was sent to "[email protected]".
