November 13, 2014 – Word of the Day

name

You probably know the meaning of this word already, but pay attention to all the different ways in which it is used. A name is a word or a title that a person or a thing goes by:

• What’s your name?
• Who named you that?
• Were you named after someone in your family?
• What’s your last name?
• Do you go by any other name?
• Do you have a nickname?
• We named our son "Martin," after Martin Luther King Jr.
• How many different states in the United States are you able to name?
• Can you name the capital of Germany?
• What’s the name of this place?

This place is named "Burger Barn."

When this word is used as a verb, it means to appoint a person to a position or identify someone for special recognition.

• Ted was named top salesperson of the month.
• The person named to fill the position of CEO comes from outside the company.
• Who will be named manager of the team?

There are many expressions and phrases that include the word "name."

• I don’t have a penny to my name. (I’m broke.)
• Stop calling names! (Stop insulting someone.)
• The police are asking residents to start naming names. (name names = give names of people)
• He’s the president of the company in name only. (in name only = a title without authority)
• They don’t want to do anything that would spoil their good name. (good name = reputation)
• She’s a namedropper. (She lets other people know whom she knows. I was having lunch the other day with my good friend, Jennifer Lopez, and she said….)

The word "namely" is similar to "mainly" or "specifically."

• There are many good sources for fresh water in the midwest, coming namely from the Great Lakes region, underground aquifers, and the rivers that run through the area.

Shirley Ellis — The Name Game

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