Paging Doctor Invincible, Doctor Sweet Flow, Doctor Golden Mouth

September 16, 2016 8:07 AM

"It was customary in the European Middle Ages, more precisely in the period of scholasticism which extended into early modern times, to designate the more celebrated among the doctors of theology and law by epithets or surnames which were supposed to express their characteristic excellence or dignity. The following list exhibits the principal surnames with the dates of death."
posted by Iridic (27 comments total)

Oh, well I never, was there ever
A monk so clever as magical
Doctor Mellifluus
posted by griphus at 8:12 AM on September 16, 2016

Doctor Bonus FTW.
posted by kinnakeet at 8:13 AM on September 16, 2016

Doctor Illuminatus confirmed
posted by Rock Steady at 8:18 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

Doctor Succinctus

oh hey I know this guy he works for my HMO amirite
posted by phunniemee at 8:20 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

Doctor Subtilis
Doctor Supersubtilis
Doctor Subtilissimus

Sadly, these appear to have been given in roughly reverse chronological order and are not, as I had hoped, evidence of goofy medieval titular oneupmanship.
posted by jedicus at 8:34 AM on September 16, 2016 [5 favorites]

This sounds like the Medieval progenitor of Darryl Dawkins.
posted by Turkey Glue at 8:42 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

Ugh, my wife always calls me Doctor Hyperbolicus, she's the most dramatic ever.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:44 AM on September 16, 2016 [5 favorites]

Someone was looking for me?
posted by Chrysostom at 8:52 AM on September 16, 2016 [3 favorites]

Curious royal epithets.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 8:56 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'm totally cribbing from this list next time I need a new rap name.
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 8:57 AM on September 16, 2016 [4 favorites]

Funny you should bring that one up, Theophile - a while back I was really trying (in vain) to find out what exactly led to the nicknaming of Eystein the Fart, and if he was the kind of guy who was proud of it.
posted by Countess Elena at 9:01 AM on September 16, 2016

What about Doctor Sentio-Bonus (he's the one that makes ya feel alright); Doctor Dentes (and the Electric Mayhem);
Doctor Quid (and the Daleks) and Doctor Octagonos!
posted by the quidnunc kid at 9:19 AM on September 16, 2016 [3 favorites]

If only I had finished my dissertation. I would have been Doctor Difficilis instead of plain old Mr. Difficult.
posted by bluejayway at 9:24 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

Heh, I was just talking about Dr. Illuminatus yesterday during the history portion of a Scotch 101 class. Ramon Llull is one of the Renaissance alchemists credited with inventing fractional distillation.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 9:35 AM on September 16, 2016 [2 favorites]

brb starting my new pitch to Adult Swim
posted by egypturnash at 9:57 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

if they brought this back maybe I'd finish my PhD. Doctor tardus.
posted by dis_integration at 10:22 AM on September 16, 2016 [2 favorites]

No relation to Doctor Tardis.
posted by dis_integration at 10:23 AM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

Martin Luthers made me laugh, and William of Ockham's is fantastic.
posted by oddman at 10:32 AM on September 16, 2016

Doctor Irrefragibilis

Dibs!
posted by praemunire at 11:09 AM on September 16, 2016

A small portion of these work if you replace the word 'Doctor' with the word 'Darth'.

Darth Invincibilis, Darth Seraphicus, Darth Venerandus, etc.

I would not, however, tremble in my space boots at the approach of Darth Fertilis, you know what I'm sayin?
posted by komara at 11:24 AM on September 16, 2016 [3 favorites]

Doctor Irrefragibilis

followed immediately by Doctor Expialidocious.
posted by komara at 11:24 AM on September 16, 2016 [3 favorites]

I was going to joke about how many of these sound like Marvel character names, but no, apparently Doctor Magnus is DC.
posted by roystgnr at 11:49 AM on September 16, 2016

Doctor Quid (and the Daleks)

«Exterminez vous! Exterminez vous!»
posted by zamboni at 12:06 PM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

From henceforth, Doctor Doom wishes to be known as Doctor Apocalypticus.
posted by Pallas Athena at 12:07 PM on September 16, 2016 [1 favorite]

Doctor Sweet Flow

Rapper name claimed.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 12:42 PM on September 16, 2016 [5 favorites]

You may think this is funny but actually it's the world's most annoying theology department party game, ruining otherwise fine holiday parties for decades on end and NOBODY LIKES SCHOLASTICS SCHOLARS ANYWAY, even before they play "hey let's name Doctors of the Church!"
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 1:04 PM on September 16, 2016 [3 favorites]

Doctor Acutus ...of Borg
posted by Foosnark at 1:08 PM on September 16, 2016