-men, -min

(Latin: a suffix; result of, means of, act of)

A noun-morming word-final element with no particular meaning, derived from the Latin suffix -men, -min- (cognate with Greek -ma), found in a number of Latin borrowings originally denoting "a condition" or "the result of an action" specified by the combining root: flumen, lumen, semen.

Related forms include: -minal; -mens, -mina (plurals).

cognomen (s) (kahg NOH muhn) (noun); cognomina, cognomens (pl)
1. A family name or a surname: In current times, "Smith" is the cognomen for James Smith.
2. Any name; especially, a nickname: "Mike" is the cognomen for Michael.
3. The third and commonly the last name of a citizen of ancient Rome, indicating the person's house or family, as "Caesar" in "Gaius Julius Caesar" or "Cicero" in "Marcus Tullius Cicero".

The ancient Roman name, Publius Cornelius Scipio, presents "Scipio" as his cognomen.

The full name of the poet Virgil was Publius Vergilius Maro and Maro designates or specifies his cognomen.

A family name or a descriptive nickname.
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semen
specimen (s), specimens (pl) (nouns)
1. Something that may be looked at; especially, a plant or an animal: "The specimen Harvey held up was an example of what he was trying to explain."
2. A sample of something that is used for medical-diagnostic analysis: "The doctor asked Karl for a specimen or sample of bodily fluid; specifically, urine which would be used for analysis or diagnosis."
stamen (s) (noun), stamens; stamina (pl)
The male part of a flower that yields pollen: The stamina are in the center of a blossom and consist of filaments and anthers, which look like delicate and fine stalks.