nomen est omen

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Latin

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Etymology

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The origin of this saying is attributed to the Roman playwright Plautus. In his play “Persa” the slave Toxilus lures his owner, Dordalus, to buy an expensive slave-girl named Lucris (profits), saying, “Nōmen atque ōmen quantīvīs iam est pretī” (“The name and the omen are worth any price”).

Pronunciation

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Proverb

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nōmen est ōmen

  1. The name is a sign, the name speaks for itself.

Descendants

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  • Finnish: nimi on enne (calque) (name is a sign)
  • Polish: nomen omen