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Webster 1913 Edition


Paronomasia


Parˊo-no-ma′si-a

,
Noun.
[L., fr. Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] to form a word by a slight change;
παρά
beside + [GREEK] to name, fr.
ὄνομα
a name.]
(Rhet.)
A play upon words; a figure by which the same word is used in different senses, or words similar in sound are set in opposition to each other, so as to give antithetical force to the sentence; punning.
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition


Paronomasia

PARONOMA'SIA


Definition 2024


paronomasia

paronomasia

English

Noun

paronomasia (plural paronomasias)

  1. (rhetoric) A pun or play on words
    • 1984, Anthony Burgess, Enderby's Dark Lady:
      [] he gloomily regarded his new digital watch, faintly fascinated by the onward march of the square figures which turned one into the other with insolent ease, a kind of numerical paronomasia.
    • 1997, Thomas Pynchon, Mason & Dixon:
      Ev’rywhere but at Norfolk, where talk of Passion far outweighs its Enactment,– indeed, the Sailors’ Paronomasia for that wretched Place, is ‘No-****’.

Translations

Related terms

References


Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek παρονομασία (paronomasía, play upon words which sound alike).

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /pa.ro.noˈma.si.a/, [pa.rɔ.nɔˈma.si.a]

Noun

paronomasia f (genitive paronomasiae); first declension

  1. A figure of speech; pun or play on words which sound alike but have different meanings, paronomasia.

Inflection

First declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative paronomasia paronomasiae
genitive paronomasiae paronomasiārum
dative paronomasiae paronomasiīs
accusative paronomasiam paronomasiās
ablative paronomasiā paronomasiīs
vocative paronomasia paronomasiae

Synonyms

Descendants

References