Gerontonym

Quick meaning: Gerontonym is a noun meaning A term, title, or name used for an old person (or set of people).

Meaning

A term, title, or name used for an old person (or set of people).

Example Sentences

When they reach grand-parental age, people become known by a gerontonym, the titles Lake' ('man') or Doh ('woman') before their own name.

Among the Lepo Tau , the assumption of a gerontonym tends to coincide with a gradual retirement from economic (although not political or ritual) participation (P. Whittier 1981: 140).

In old age the person is given a gerontonym by which he must be addressed. Thus, after death the person is remembered only by the gerontonym or other teknonym, and the real name is forever lost.

The use of the gerontonym is a form of respect, and it supersedes the teknonym or necronym. One does not attain a gerontonym simply by becoming a grandparent : young grandparents are not so designated.

Word Forms

• gerontonyms

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include genarian, senior, aged, elderly, granddad, pensioner.

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