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

/ ˌæntənəˈmeɪzɪə; ˌæntənəˈmæstɪk /

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

Pertaining to, or characterized by, antonomasia.

From Project Gutenberg

Antonomasia, ant-on-om-āz′i-a, n. a figure of speech which uses an epithet on the name of an office or attributive for a person's proper name, e.g. his lordship for an earl; and conversely, e.g. a Napoleon for a great conqueror.

From Project Gutenberg

The famous kingdom of Candaya had for its queen the lady Donna Maguncia, widow of King Archipiela, who died, leaving the Infanta Antonomasia, their only child, heiress to the crown.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus being made the go-between, the wicked man was often in the chamber of the—not by him, but by me, betrayed Antonomasia, as her lawful spouse: for, sinner as I am, never would I have consented unless he had been her true husband, that he should have come within the shadow of her shoe-string!

From Project Gutenberg

No, no, marriage must be the forerunner of any business of this kind undertaken by me; the only mischief in the affair was that they were ill-sorted: Don Clavijo being but a private gentleman, and the Infanta Antonomasia, as I have already said, heiress of the kingdom.

From Project Gutenberg