metonymy Rhet.
(mɪˈtɒnɪmɪ)
Also 6–7 metonymie, -imie, -imy, 9 metonomy. Also 6–7 in Lat. form.
[ad. late L. metōnymi-a, a. Gr. µετωνυµία, lit. ‘change of name’, f. µετ(α)- meta- + ὄνοµα, Aeol. ὄνυµα name.]
A figure of speech which consists in substituting for the name of a thing the name of an attribute of it or of something closely related.
In quot. 1547 metonomian = µετωνυµίαν (accus.).
| [1547 Hooper Answ. Winchester's Bk. D 1 b, Men seyth that they admyt metonomian, and say under the forme of breade is the trew bodye of Christ.] 1562 Cooper Answ. Def. Truth 106 b, The figure is named Metonymia: when the name of the thynge is geuen vnto the signe. 1573 Cartwright Reply to Whitgift 14 The Apostle by a metonimie Subiecti pro adiuncto, dothe giue to vnderstand from whence y⊇ assured persuasion doth spring. 1625 Gill Sacr. Philos. ii. 156 Shebet signifies either a staffe, a truncheon, or Scepter,..and so by a metonymia it may signifie authority. 1657 J. Smith Myst. Rhet. 15 A metonymie of the effect, is when the effect or thing caused, is put for its cause. 1668 H. More Div. Dial., Schol. 575 Here is a double Metonymie, Christ is put for the Doctrine of Christ, and Hope for the Cause of Hope. 1676 W. Hubbard Happin. People 4 By times we are to understand things done in those times, by a metonimy of the adjunct. 1868 Bain Ment. & Mor. Sci. iv. xi. 403 By what is called ‘metonymy’, the fact intended to be expressed is denoted by one of the adjuncts. |