THE LEXICAL STATUS OF EPONYMS IN THE FIELD OF ONOMASTICS

As the title implies the article describes the lexical status of eponyms among other groups of onyms (anthroponyms, zoonyms, toponyms, theonyms, etc.), and also deals with some peculiarities of eponyms' functioning in Russian and English lexics. Attention is drawn to an etymological review of the term "eponym". Some varieties of eponymic terms are identified, as well as their origins and functions in lexic.