Archaisms sometimes confuse our speech, calling what is close and understandable to us by other names. Here, for example, Neutons and Plato. Is this who or what? You probably could read these words in fiction, newspaper article, news feed. In fact, they do not denote the newly discovered elements of the atom. These are not the names of new figures of science and art. And even more so not toponyms. Everything is much simpler - read on!
Origin of phrase
You probably already guessed who Nevton is if you are closely acquainted with the literary work of Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov. In particular, with "Oda on the day of the accession to the throne of Elizabeth Petrovna in 1747." These lines are:
"… maybe own Platonians
And quick-witted Neutons
Russian land to give birth …"
It follows that Nevton is an archaic Russian version of the name of the famous scientist Isaac Newton. And Plato, of course, is a famous ancient Greek philosopher in this context (Plato in another sense is a popular Russian name). That’s the whole mystery.
"Platonov and Neutons …": meaning of words
Thus, using these words in relation to someone, we compare a person with outstanding figures of science, philosophy of past centuries. That is, allegorically extol his inquisitive mind, amazing erudition, constant craving for new knowledge. Nevton is the common name of a person who amazes us intellectually. In the same meaning can be used in relation to people associated with some area of science and other activities, the names of legendary personalities who have become famous in this area. For example: the future Mendeleev, the present Pushkin, our Geradot, etc.
Nevton is the future star of science, and a talented student, and a student who has distinguished himself in his studies. At the same time, one can trace in the word, depending on the context, subtle irony, and slight neglect, and paternal ridicule. Compare the semantic connotation of these phrases: “I consider this student to be the future Neuton”, “They will be those Neutons who will bring domestic science to a new level” and “Well, you and Nevton!”, “We don’t need such Neutons.” The word is colored differently depending on the meaning of the whole phrase.
Proper names
Platonov and Nevtonov may well be surnames. The story of this can come from seminarians. Having learned the basics of science, the young men considered their own Russian surnames not quite harmonious. Why they saw a way out was to remake them a bit in a foreign language. And someone was not at all embarrassed to take the surname of a prominent scientist.
That is why we can still meet the Platonic and Neutonic. But the matter is in resourceful seminarians who suddenly decided to name themselves in honor of Newton and Plato, saying goodbye to their real name.
