1. Plural of cognomen; surnames or family names, especially in ancient Rome.
Usage: formal; historical; chiefly used in classical or genealogical contexts
2. Plural of cognomen; nicknames or epithets by which a person is known.
Usage: formal; literary

Examples

• The Roman general's cognomina reflected his military victories and family heritage.
• Scholars study the cognomina of ancient emperors to understand their titles and honors.
• The cognomina in this genealogical record trace the family line back several centuries.
• Medieval documents often recorded both given names and cognomina for identification purposes.
• The historian compiled a list of cognomina from inscriptions found at the archaeological site.