An anonymous person, especially an author.
"The manuscript was published under the name of a well-known editor who acted as anon to hide the true author's identity."
In plain English: Anon is short for anonymous, which means someone who does not reveal their name or identity.
"The old song was sung by an anon minstrel in the village square centuries ago."
Usage: Use this term primarily in literary or formal contexts to refer to the identity of an unknown writer rather than any generic faceless individual. Avoid using "anon" as a casual abbreviation for "anonymous" when describing actions or sources outside of publishing history.
anonymous
"The report was signed anon, so no one knew who wrote it."
Straight away; at once.
"Anon, he rushed to help his friend who had fallen."
The name given when an author's name is unknown.
"The manuscript was published under the title Anon because the original author had been lost to history."
Anon comes from the phrase "in one," combining Old English words for "in" and "one." It originally meant immediately or in a single moment before evolving into its modern sense of soon or shortly thereafter.