antonomasia

American  

[an-tuh-nuh-mey-zhuh] / ˌæn tə nəˈmeɪ ʒə /

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.

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antonomasia British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• antonomastic adjective
• antonomastical adjective
• antonomastically adverb

Etymology

Origin of antonomasia

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

Example Sentences

The opposite substitution of a proper name for some generic term is also sometimes called antonomasia; as “a Cicero” for an orator.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 2 "Anjar" to "Apollo" by Various

What is generally called art, by antonomasia, collects intuitions that are wider and more complex than those which we generally experience, but these intuitions are always of sensations and impressions.

From Aesthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic by Croce, Benedetto

By antonomasia proper names may become general terms, as if we say 'A Johnson' would not have written such a book—i.e., any man of his genius for elaborate eloquence.

From Logic Deductive and Inductive by Read, Carveth