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antonomasia
antonomasia definition
an·to·no·ma·sia (an′tə nō′mā′z̸hə)
noun
- the use of an epithet or title in place of a name, as in calling a judge his honor
- the use of a proper name in place of a common noun which it represents, as in calling a philanderer a Don Juan
Etymology: L < Gr < antonomazein, to call by another name < anti-, instead of + onomazein, to name < onoma, name
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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