What’s an eponym?

You know lots of eponyms—words based on or derived from a person’s name. They include many commonly used words in a wide range of categories—from fashion, to food, music, and science.

But, who are the people who donated their names to the English language? And, is it always an honor? Many folks are recognized for their creativity, inventions, and style, but others are remembered for their bad characters or behaviors. Let’s look at some famous—and infamous—men and women who became eponyms.