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To be sure, there's a whole bunch of suffixes that are used for this, and some transformations seem to be completely arbitrary while some others deliberate and even a bit contrite.

Rubenesque actually takes liberties with the painter's name, which is Rubens, as does

Thoreauvian, from Thoreau.

Platonic takes advantage of the original Greek spelling of Plato's name (Platon). Shouldn't it be Platoesque instead?

Byronic is straight-forward enough. What about

Shavian, though? When did G.B. Shaw ever ask for a good shave?

And what are you supposed to do with

Edgar Allan Poe
Giacomo Puccini
or even Leonardo, for that matter?

There are no duplicates of this question. One seeming duplicate only touches upon the subject lightly and approaches the matter from a different angle.

Ricky
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  • Puccinian and Leonadine is used sometimes. There are Marxist and Trotskyite. – Henry Apr 19 '17 at 06:24
  • Also: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/150067/guidelines-for-selecting-suffix-when-making-an-adjective-out-of-a-proper-name –  Apr 19 '17 at 06:28
  • @Henry: Uh ... Marxist, like Pucciniist, means something else. As do Wagnerian, Wagnerist, and Wagnerite. – Ricky Apr 19 '17 at 06:29
  • *List of eponymous adjectives in English* - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_eponymous_adjectives_in_English - *Eponym* - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eponym –  Apr 19 '17 at 06:32
  • @Josh: I thought I was asking for a list of rules rather than examples. – Ricky Apr 19 '17 at 06:40
  • As for *Platonic (adj.)* - 1530s, "of or pertaining to Greek philosopher Plato" (429 B.C.E.-c. 347 B.C.E.), *from Latin Platonicus, from Greek Platonikos.* The meaning "free of sensual desire" (1630s), which the word usually carries nowadays, is a Renaissance notion. *Platonesque* - Suggestive or characteristic of Plato or his ideas.https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/platonesque –  Apr 19 '17 at 06:44
  • Your question is too broad. Eponyms formation depends on a lot of factors, etymology, usage, meaning...etc. You might concentrate on a few specific instances. In the second Wikipedia kink there are a few indications on eponyms usage...you should show your own research first. –  Apr 19 '17 at 06:47
  • *Puccinian* - Of or belonging to Puccini; relating to or characteristic of his operas; specifically melodic, richly orchestral, lyrical; excessively operatic; conventionally dramatic or sentimental. Related *Pucciniesque* - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/puccinian –  Apr 19 '17 at 06:52
  • This is probably what you are looking for: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/150067/guidelines-for-selecting-suffix-when-making-an-adjective-out-of-a-proper-name –  Apr 19 '17 at 06:54
  • @josh: I'm not looking for anything in particular. I guess I'm just trying to remind folks that this here forum is titled English Language & Usage, and not, say, ELL ... or ESL, for that matter. – Ricky Apr 19 '17 at 19:43
  • @Ricky - as a 10k plus user, you are supposed to know how to ask an on-topic question. –  Apr 19 '17 at 20:20

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