antonomasia

[ an-tuh-nuh-mey-zhuh ]

noun

1. Rhetoric. the identification of a person by an epithet or appellative that is not the person's name, as his lordship.
2. the use of the name of a person who was distinguished by a particular characteristic, as Don Juan or Annie Oakley, to designate a person or group of persons having the same characteristic.

antonomasia

/ ˌæntənəˈmæstɪk; ˌæntənəˈmeɪzɪə /

noun

1. the substitution of a title or epithet for a proper name, such as his highness
2. the use of a proper name for an idea

   he is a Daniel come to judgment

Derived Forms

• antonomastic, adjective
• ˌantonoˈmastically, adverb

Other Words From

• an·to·no·mas·tic [an-t, uh, -noh-, mas, -tik], anto·no·masti·cal adjective
• anto·no·masti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of antonomasia¹

1580–90; < Latin < Greek, verbid of antonomázein to call by a new name, equivalent to ant- ant- + onomat- stem of ónoma name + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of antonomasia¹

C16: via Latin from Greek, from antonomazein to name differently, from onoma name

Example Sentences

Antonomasia is, whych for ye proper name putteth some other word: As: the Archebyshop confuted the errour, for Cranmer.

From Project Gutenberg