A name of a fictional character that suggests the personality traits of that character.[From English character, from Greek charakter (marking or engraving tool) + -onym (name).]
Example: Mrs. Malaprop in Richard Sheridan's novel The Rivals. She was known for misusing words with humorous results. From mal- (bad) + apropos (fitting).
A related word is aptronym, a name that's especially suited to one's profession, e.g. Sally Ride, the astronaut.
"The easy-going Lovewit lives up to his charactonym; he enjoys a good joke, and condones mischief when it is clever and profitable to himself."
Kenneth Muir, et al; Shakespeare Survey: Volume 22; Cambridge University Press; 2002.
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Posted by Keya at September 22, 2005 08:56 PM