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paronomasia

 - 3 dictionary results

par·o·no·ma·sia

   [par-uh-noh-mey-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh]
–nounRhetoric.
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.
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Origin:
1570–80; < L < Gk paronomasía a play on words, assonance, deriv. of paronomázein to make a slight name-change (par- par- + onomázein to name, deriv. of ónoma name); see -ia

—Related forms
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. 2010.
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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

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

Learn more about paronomasia with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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