paronomasia
Americannoun
-
the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect, as humor or a dual meaning; punning.
-
a pun.
noun
Other Word Forms
- paronomastic adjective
- paronomastically adverb
Etymology
Origin of paronomasia
1570–80; < Latin < Greek paronomasía a play on words, assonance, derivative of paronomázein to make a slight name-change ( par- par- + onomázein to name, derivative of ónoma name ); -ia
Explanation
Paronomasia is the technique of using a pun, or a joke based on multiple or possible meanings of words. Shakespeare was the king of paronomasia. Most examples of paronomasia are funny, a clever play on words, although it's also used for emphasis in rhetoric or as a poetic device in literature. Newspaper and website headline writers are known for using paronomasia to catch readers' attention."Otter Devastation," for example, the headline on a story about environmental changes affecting otters, sounds like "utter devastation," a common news phrase. In Greek, paronomasia means "play upon similar-sounding words."
Vocabulary lists containing paronomasia
Rhetoric
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Imagery, Figures of Speech, and Tone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Roman orators Cicero and Quintilian believed that "paronomasia", the Greek term for punning, was a sign of intellectual suppleness and rhetorical skill.
From BBC • Jan. 16, 2013
This paronomasia is the title of a program designed to bring quiet to a city.
From Time Magazine Archive
The paronomasia exhibited in the Latin, "Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram," also appears both in the Greek and the Syriac.
From Notes and Queries, Number 239, May 27, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by Various
"It is a perversion of the text," said the eager Henry Warden, "grounded on a vain play upon words—a most idle paronomasia."
From The Monastery by Scott, Walter, Sir
Euen the title—which, as is customarie with great personages, is the best part of your Majesties book—is marred by an unseemlie concession to paronomasia.
From Without Prejudice by Zangwill, Israel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
