Definition
Antonomasia is:
- the use of a proper name to stand for something else having an attribute associated with that name, or
- the use of a general term to stand for a referent having a proper name.
Examples
(English)
The use of a Solomon to stand for "a wise man"
The use of Land of Lakes to stand for "Minnesota"
Sources 3
- Pei and Gaynor 1954, 15
- Corbett 1971, 485
- Gove 1966, 97