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antonomasia

Pronunciation: /ˌantənəˈmeɪzɪə, anˌtɒnə-/

Definition of antonomasia

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1 Linguistics the substitution of an epithet or title for a proper name (e.g. the Maid of Orleans for Joan of Arc).
  • 2the use of a proper name to express a general idea (e.g. a Scrooge for a miser).

Origin:

mid 16th century: via Latin from Greek, from antonomazein 'name instead', from anti- 'against, instead' + onoma 'a name'

antonomasia in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of antonomasia in the US English dictionary

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