n. 1. The substitution of a title or epithet for a proper name, as in calling a sovereign "Your Majesty." 2. The substitution of a personal name for a common noun to designate a member of a group or class, as in calling a traitor a "Benedict Arnold." [Latin, from Greek antonomazein, to name instead : anti-, instead of; see ANTI- + onomazein, to name (from onoma, name; see n-men- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] an′to·no·mastic (-măstĭk) adj. an′to·no·masti·cal·ly adv. |
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