paronomasia

par·o·no·ma·sia

 (păr′ə-nō-mā′zhə)

n.

1. Word play; punning.

2. A pun.

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[Latin, from Greek paronomasiā, from paronomazein, to call by a different name : para-, beside; see para-¹ + onomazein, to name; see onomastic.]

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par′o·no·mas′tic (-măs′tĭk), par′o·no·ma′sial (-mā′zhəl) adj.

par′o·no·mas′ti·cal·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

paronomasia

(ˌpærənəʊˈmeɪzɪə)

n

(Rhetoric) rhetoric a play on words, esp a pun. Also (obsolete): paronomasy

[C16: via Latin from Greek: a play on words, from paronomazein to make a change in naming, from para-¹ (beside) + onomazein to name, from onoma a name]

paronomastic, paronomastical adj

ˌparonoˈmastically adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

par•o•no•ma•sia

(ˌpær ə noʊˈmeɪ ʒə, -ʒi ə, -zi ə)

n., pl. -sias.

a play on words; pun.

[1570–80; < Latin < Greek paronomasía a play on words, assonance, derivative of paronomázein to make a slight name-change =par- par- + onomázein to name, derivative of ónoma name]

par•o•no•ma•si•ac (ˌpær ə noʊˈmeɪ ziˌæk) n.

par`o•no•mas′tic (-ˈmæs tɪk) adj.

par`o•no•mas′ti•cal•ly, adv.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

paronomasia

1. Rhetoric. the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound for effect, as humor or ambiguity; punning.
2. a pun. — paronomastic, adj.

See also: Punning

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the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound for effect, as humor or ambiguity; punning. Also called adnomination, agnomination, annomination.

See also: Rhetoric and Rhetorical Devices

-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

paronomasia - a humorous play on words; "I do it for the pun of it"; "his constant punning irritated her" pun, punning, wordplay fun, sport, play - verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"; "he said it in sport"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.