anonyma
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A lady of the demi-monde, or worse; a "pretty horsebreaker." INCOGNITA was the term at first. Product of the squeamishness of the age which tries to thrust away fact by the use of fine words.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “anonyma” mean?
A lady of the demi-monde, or worse; a "pretty horsebreaker." INCOGNITA was the term at first. Product of the squeamishness of the age which tries to thrust away fact by the use of fine words.
Is “anonyma” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.