paronomasia Hear it!

paronomasia definition

paro·no·ma·sia (par′ə nō māz̸hə, -z̸hē ə)

noun

a pun

Etymology: L < Gr paronomasia < para-, beside (see para-) + onomasia, naming < onomazein, to name < onoma, name

Related Forms:

  • paronomastic par′o·no·mas′·tic (-mastik) adjective

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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