Editing Cognomen (section)

{{Short description|Third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome}}
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A '''''cognomen''''' ({{IPA|la|kɔŋˈnoːmɛn|lang}};{{r|Pinkster2018}}<!--source for the vowel length, as there is some uncertainty over the first "o"--> {{plural form}}: '''''cognomina'''''; from ''co-'' "together with" and ''(g)nomen'' "name") was the third name of a citizen of [[ancient Rome]], under [[Roman naming conventions]]. Initially, it was a [[nickname]], but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary ''cognomina'' were used to augment the second name, the ''[[nomen gentilicium]]'' (the [[Surname|family name]], or clan name), in order to identify a particular branch within a family or family within a clan. The term has also taken on other contemporary meanings.