‖ paronomasia
(pərɒnəʊˈmeɪzɪə, -sɪə)
Also erron. 7–8 paran-.
[L., a. Gr. παρονοµασία, f. παρ(α- para-1 1 + ὀνοµασία naming, after παρονοµάζειν to alter slightly in naming.]
A playing on words which sound alike; a word-play; a pun.
| 1579 E. K. Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Jan. Gloss., A Paronomasia or playing with the word, where he sayth I loue thilke lasse, alas etc. 1666 Dryden Ann. Mirab. Let. Sir R. Howard, The jingle of a more poor paranomasia. 1727 Pope, etc. Art of Sinking 97 The Paranomasia, or Pun, where a word, like the tongue of a jackdaw, speaks twice as much by being split. 1820 Scott Monast. xxxiii, A most idle paronomasia. 1879 Expositor X. 20 Both classes of paronomasia are found in St. Paul. |
Hence
paronoˈmasial,
paronoˈmasian,
paronomasiˈastic adjs., of or pertaining to paronomasia; characterized by paronomasia; so
paronoˈmastic,
-ical adjs.,
paronoˈmastically adv.| 1823 New Monthly Mag. VIII. 108 [This] raised..a ludicrous *paranomasial association in the minds of some of the audience. |
| 1890 Sat. Rev. 13 Sept. 309/2 The playful, *paronomasian method of the poet. |
| 1902 Speaker 4 Jan. 400/1 The finesses alllusive, *paronomasiastic, and the like of the Erasmian Latin. |
| c 1810 Coleridge in Lit. Rem. (1838) III. 266 The very letter of the famous *paronomastic text proves that Peter's confession, not Peter himself, was the rock. |
| 1664 H. More Exp. 7 Epist. Pref. b ij, The sound of θυάτειρα and θυγάτειρα are near enough for *paronomasticall Allusion in any indifferent man's judgement whatsoever. 1888 Bookworm I. 273 Cleverly paronomastical is ‘A Cursory History of Swearing’ by Julian Sharman. |
| 1846 Tregelles Gesenius' Hebr. Lexicon s.v. ['ăḇōy], For the purpose of *paronomastically answering to the words. |