4

We can refer to a particular method devised by Newton as the "Newtonian method" or a distribution attributed to Laplace might be referred to as the "Laplacian Distribution".

Some colleagues were having a lively discussion on what would be the analog for the name "Jeffreys" (note the 's'). Some suggestions:

  1. Jeffreysian
  2. Jeffreyian
  3. Jeffreyic
  4. Jeffreysic
  5. Jeffrecian

My vote is for "Jeffrecian" mostly because of the similarity of the last sound in Jeffreys to Belize, for which the demonym is Belizean. Thoughts? Note: I'm aware there is definitely not a right answer and this is mostly for fun :)

Related question I just found: Guidelines for selecting suffix when making an adjective out of a proper name (-esque, -ean, -ian,

bdeonovic
  • 141

1 Answers1

1

It's obviously Jeffreysian. Think Keynesian economics.

H. sapiens rex
  • 451
  • And Bayesian inference in statistics. – Rosie F Oct 19 '19 at 17:18
  • Of course! I'm slapping myself on the forehead right now for not thinking of that as my example, but I've been thinking a lot about economic stuff lately so go figure huh? – H. sapiens rex Oct 19 '19 at 17:25
  • And (however ugly it sounds) JeffREEZian, on analogy with BeethoVEENian, WagNEERian, ABEELian, NoethEERian etc. And I've just remembered Rafflesia. – Rosie F Oct 19 '19 at 17:37
  • What's wrong with "Jeffreysonian"? – Hot Licks Oct 19 '19 at 19:29
  • @Hot Licks I'm not sure actually. I just think that "-ian" is the standard eponymous suffix for names ending in an "s". I can think of another reason, though: "Jeffreysonian" is longer than "Jeffreysian", syllable-wise, so the natural choice is the latter. – H. sapiens rex Oct 20 '19 at 02:43