People Who Became Words - 13 Trivia Quiz

Answer: It is named after Mary Magdalene

The word maudlin is derived from Magdalene. The reference here is to Mary Magdalene who is believed to have wept at the tomb of Jesus. The word maudlin is used to describe excessive sentimentality or tearfulness.

Answer: False

Mickey Finn was a bartender in Chicago who managed a bar named 'Lone Star Saloon'. Mickey would lace drinks of few customers with knock-out drops (usually chloral hydrate). When the customers passed out, he would rob them. Mickey Finn is thus used to refer to a drink which is mixed with knock-out drops. Slipping a mickey into a drink was a popular technique used in novels and films to make someone unconscious.

Answer: A business tycoon

The Mughal Empire ruled over a large part of South Asia from 1526-1857. The word mogul is used to refer to a business tycoon, who would (usually) have built a large business empire just like the Mughals built their empire.

Answer: The god of dreams

Morphine is an alkaloid of opium which is used as a narcotic analgesic. Morphine was first discovered by a German pharmacist Friedrich Serturner. He named the drug morphium after Morpheus, the god of dreams, who may have been created by the Roman poet Ovid in his "Metamorphoses". This was because of the narcotic nature of the drug which would induce a dream-like state.

Answer: Evil

Nemesis was the Greek goddess of retribution. In Greek mythology, Nemesis is depicted as an avenger of crime. The word nemesis is used to refer to 'retribution', 'vengeance' and 'doom'. The word is also used to refer to an 'arch-enemy' or 'opponent'. It does not, however, mean 'evil'.

Answer: A French Ambassador

Jean Nicot de Villemain was the French ambassador in Portugal from 1559 to 1561. He sent the leaves and seeds of the tobacco plant to France and promoted its medicinal usage. The main alkaloid in tobacco is nicotine, which is named after Jean Nicot. The tobacco plant is also named as Nicotiana tabacum after Jean Nicot.

Answer: Nosey-parker

Mathew Parker was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559-1575. According to some sources, Parker would interfere in church matters not related to him. This was referred to as 'poking his nose where not required'. The word nosey-parker is thus believed to be named after Parker.

However, there are some sources which suggest that the word originated only in 1907 and thus could not have been named after the Archbishop. But the Parker legend is well-accepted. The word nosey-parker is used to refer to people who meddle or interfere in other people's affairs.

Answer: A farmer

Oscar is the name given to the movie awards given away by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The word Oscar is believed to have been named after a US farmer named Oscar Pierce. A secretary of the academy named Margaret Herrick is believed to have remarked that the statuette resembled her uncle Oscar Pierce.

The award was thus affectionately referred to as the Oscars. However, there are also other versions which claim that the award was named after actress Bette Davis's husband.

Answer: A tailor

The term 'peeping tom' is taken from the legend of Lady Godiva. According to one legend, Lady Godiva rode naked on a horse on the streets of Coventry to compel her husband to reduce taxes. The whole village shut their doors and windows to avoid seeing her.

However a tailor named Tom is believed to have peeped through a hole in the shutter to see her. He was struck blind for his act. The term 'peeping tom' is thus used to refer to a voyeur.

Answer: Plato

Plato was a famous Greek philosopher. In one of his works 'Symposium', a character Diotima explains that true love is the love of divinity. Here love was described as being spiritual in nature, and the ultimate love was supposed to be the love of divinity.

The word platonic is thus used to refer to a non-physical, spiritual relationship between people. It is also used to describe friends or companions, where the relation is non-physical.