Eponyms: The People Behind the Words Quiz

Answer: Mosaic

The "Mosaic law" (named for Moses, of course) encompasses the Ten Commandments as well as the laws set forth in the Talmud (the first five books of the Torah, or the Old Testament). Although the name of the ancient art of creating pictures from colored tile is spelled and pronounced the same way, it ironically has nothing to do with Moses; rather, it is a name derived from the Muses of Greek mythology.

The "mosaic virus", so named because of the mottled "mosaic" appearance of affected leaves and fruits, is a plant virus which affects vegetables, tobacco, and red clover, among others.

Answer: Tawdry

The word "tawdry" was in vogue by Shakespeare's time and appears in "The Winter's Tale" ("You promised me a tawdry lace and a pair of sweet gloves"). One ridiculous legend even claims that the throat tumor which eventually ended Audrey's life was caused by the many necklaces she was wont to wear during her aristocratic days. St. Audrey's fair is still observed at Ely and in other parts of the world and is celebrated on her feast day on Midsummer's eve, June 23. (Incidentally, Audrey had an equally pious sister named Sexburga who is also venerated as a saint; pity no one came up with a word derived from her name!)

Answer: Finance minister

Silhouette's tax policies had crippled the French and had made him one of the most hated men in France. Cutting out shadow-profiles was a hobby of his (and shadow portraits were a favorite pastime of the aristocracy). As a protest against his policies, the French wore black and chanted "We are dressing a la Silhouette; we are too poor to wear color." Eventually the deteriorating economy forced his resignation.

Answer: Current

The word "current" simply refers to the flow of electricity. Amps, or amperes, are named for the French physicist Andre-Marie Ampere, famous for his contributions to the study of electrodynamics; the word designates a unit of electrical flow. Voltage is named for Italian scientist Alessandro Volta, who invented the first electric battery, and designates a unit of electrical potential difference. Watts, and wattage, are named for Scottish inventor James Watt and designates a unit of power. Watts' improvement of the steam engine is credited with having really initiated the Industrial Revolution. All of these men lived at the turn of the 18th-19th century.

Answer: Edward VII

The Edwardian era began around 1901 and continued, actually for nearly a decade after Edward's death in 1910. Edward himself fully enjoyed the best things in life; married to the beautiful Danish-born princess Alexandra, he carried on numerous affairs before "settling down" with the notorious Mrs. Keppel (a forerunner and, indeed, ancestor of Camilla Parker Bowles), who is said to have borne him a child.

He also enjoyed good food, music (he was a fan of Italian opera and a great early admirer of Caruso), and cigar smoking (a habit of which his mother had greatly disapproved, but which flourished during his reign)). One of the few British royals to have taken an interest in finance (he was quite friendly with the Rothschilds and other prominent banking families), his era is aptly remembered as "The Gilded Age".

The 1996 movie "Titanic" sparked a renewed interest in the Edwardian era.

Answer: Gladiolus

Gladiolas, popular with florists for its large colorful blooms, are also known for their sword-shaped leaves; hence the name "gladiolus" from the Latin "gladius" meaning sword. Zinnias were native to Mexico and were known to the Aztecs; they were brought to Europe and cultivated by the 18th century German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn. Saintpaulias (African violets) are not named for the apostle, but for the German-born explorer Baron von Saint Paul-Illaire, who discovered them in 1892 in the Usambara region of South Africa, of which he was Regional Commissioner. Dahlias are named for Andreas Dahl, an 18th century Swedish botanist and student of Carl Linneaus. Like Zinnias, they were native to Mexico.

Answer: Eleanora Duse

Duse (1859-1924), a contemporary of the equally legendary Sarah Bernhardt, was generally regarded as the greatest actress of her time, possibly of all time. She was known simply as "The Duse", and her repertoire encompassed Shakespeare, Ibsen, Zola, and her fellow countryman and onetime lover Gabriel D'Annunzio.

The word "doozy", meaning something extraordinary, a real knockout, originated around the late 19th century and is generally believed to have been derived from her name. The term became even more widely used in the early 1930's with the invention of the Duesenberg automobile (touted as the American Rolls Royce); any grand-looking automobile would be referred to as "a real doozy".

Answer: Peter Paul Rubens

"Rubensesque" (as well as "Junoesque" derived from the Roman goddess and wife of Jupiter) describes the type of well-cushioned women whom the Dutch artist particularly delighted in painting; he even married one, Helena Fourment, who frequently modeled for him.

Many a contemporary woman, struggling with weight loss and dismayed by the current mania for near-anorexic litheness, has longed for a return to the days of the "Rubens woman".

Answer: Saxophone

The saxophone was created by Belgian inventor Antoine Joseph Sax, whose father operated a music studio, and was introduced in Paris in 1842. Sax had created other instruments while apprenticed in his father's studio, but the most original was this instrument, which combines the properties of a brass and a woodwind instrument.

Answer: A doughnut

Krol is said to have concocted a simple fried pastry sweetened with honey during one particularly harsh winter when provisions were scarce. These came to be called "krulles", from which was derived the word "cruller". Next time you happen to be in NYC enjoying a doughnut and coffee, you may wish to raise your cardboard cup in a toast to Krol's memorial monument on the edifice of the Reformed Church on Second Avenue.