paronomasia

par·o·no·ma·sia

[par-uh-noh-mey-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh]
noun Rhetoric.
1.
the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect, as humor or a dual meaning; punning.
2.
a pun.

Origin:
1570–80; < Latin < Greek paronomasía a play on words, assonance, derivative of paronomázein to make a slight name-change (par- par- + onomázein to name, derivative of ónoma name); see -ia

par·o·no·mas·tic [par-uh-noh-mas-tik] , adjective
par·o·no·mas·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To Paronomasia
00:10
Paronomasia is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Collins
World English Dictionary
paronomasia (ˌpærənəʊˈmeɪzɪə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
rhetoric a play on words, esp a pun
 
[C16: via Latin from Greek: a play on words, from paronomazein to make a change in naming, from para-1 (beside) + onomazein to name, from onoma a name]
 
paronomastic
 
adj
 
parono'mastically
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

paronomasia

a humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest different meanings or applications, or a play on words, as in the use of the word rings in the following nursery rhyme: Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,To see a fine lady upon a white horse; Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,She shall have music wherever she goes

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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