PATRONYMIC

[pat.ro.nym.ic] n [LL patronymicum, fr. neut. of patronymicus of a patronymic, fr. Gk patronymikos, fr. patronymia patronymic, fr. patr- + onyma name--more at name] (1612): a name derived from that of the father or a paternal ancestor usu. by the addition of an affix -- patronymic adj