agnomination
(ægˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃən)
[ad. L. agnōminātiōn-em (also adn- and in med.L. ann-), n. of action, f. agnōminā-re: see agnominate. Also written adnomination and annomination.]
1. The giving of an agnomen or surname; the name so given. rare—0.
| 1692 Coles, Agnomination, a sir-name. [Not in Johnson 1755.] 1775 Ash, Agnomination, the giving of a new name. |
2. Rhet. A kind of word-play, paronomasia; allusion of one word to another.
| 1588 Fraunce Lawiers Logike i. xii. 50 As for the pretty and conceipted chaunge of the woord, argumentum ab arguendo, it seemeth also a Rhetoricall agnomination. 1601 B. Jonson Poetaster iii. i. 104 A kind of paranomasie, or agnomination. 1657 J. Smith Myst. Rhet. 105 Agnomination is a pleasant sound of words, or a small change of names; or it is a present touch of the same letter, syllable, or word with a different meaning. 1682 Keach & Delaune Philologica Sacra ii. ii. 3 in τροποσχηµαλογια II, Agnomination, or Likeness of Words..is when by the Change of one Letter or Word, the Signification thereof is also changed. 1962 G. K. Hunter John Lyly iv. 244 The highly patterned prose..is not there simply because Lyly was suffering from a bad dose of agnomination or isocolon. |
3. Alliteration.
| 1595–6 R. Carew in Shaks. Cent. Praise 20 In Ecchoes and Agnominations. 1605 Camden Rem. 27 The English and Welsh delighted much in licking the letter and clapping together Agnominations. 1789 Mrs. Piozzi France & Italy I. 239 They held agnominations{ddd}to be elegant. |