different between nameless vs anonymous

English

Etymology

From Middle English nameles, equivalent to name +? -less. Cognate with Dutch naamloos (“nameless”), German namenlos (“nameless”), Danish navnløs (“nameless”), Swedish namnlös (“nameless”), Icelandic nafnlausur (“nameless, anonymous”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

nameless (not comparable)

1. Not having a name; unnamed.
2. Whose name is unknown; unidentified or obscure.
3. anonymous
4. Unable to be described or expressed.

Derived terms

• namelessly
• namelessness

Translations

Anagrams

• Sleemans, lameness, maleness, maneless, meanless, salesmen

English

Etymology

Borrowed into English around 1600 from Late Latin anonymus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (an?numos, “without name”), from ???- (an-, “un-”) with ????? (ónuma), Aeolic and Doric dialectal form of ????? (ónoma, “name”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??n?n?m?s/
• Rhymes: -?n?m?s

Adjective

anonymous (comparative more anonymous, superlative most anonymous)

1. (not comparable) Lacking a name; not named, for example an animal not assigned to any species.

   Synonym: nameless

2. (not comparable) Without any name acknowledged of a person responsible

3. (not comparable) Of unknown name; whose name is withheld

   Synonyms: unidentified, unknown, unnamed

4. (comparable, figuratively) Lacking individuality.

   Synonym: faceless

Synonyms

• (without consideration of prestige or background): on the merits

Antonyms

• onymous

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• anonymous on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• John Doe
• unknown

References

• anonymous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• anonymous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.