Originally Posted By: The Pook
I don't think anonym exists at all as a word


I'm quite sure you mean something else here, but..

anonym
1. A person whose name is not given, who remains nameless. (Often anonyme, as in Fr.)
1812 BYRON in Moore Life (1866) 166, I should hardly wish a contest with..all the anonymes and synonymes of Committee Candidates. 1866 DE MORGAN Budg. Parad. 10 Among my anonymes is a gentleman who is angry at my treatment of the ‘poor but thoughtful’ man who, etc. 1878 H. H. GIBBS Ombre 78 Sir Anonym (as..[Dr. Pole in Macmillan 1875]..calls the third player) being at Belinda's right hand, and the Baron at her left.

2. A fictitious designation, concealing the real name of a writer; a pseudonym. (Cf. synonym.)
1866 Anti-Slavery Rep. 2 July 169/1 The writer, who signs himself St. Jago de la Vega, is scarcely veiled under his anonym. 1882 Nonconf. 5 May 401/3 The critic crowing loudly behind his anonym sneers at Dr. Hutton.
[OED2]

perhaps you'd agree that the appellation 'anon' that you often see attached to citations is an anonym?!

-ron o.

p.s. - Date: Tue Aug 1 00:22:50 EDT 1995
Subject: A.Word.A.Day--anonym

Last edited by tsuwm; 04/03/08 02:44 PM.