Definition:
Substitution of a title, epithet, or descriptive phrase for a proper name (or of a personal name for a common name) to designate a member of a group or class.
Etymology:
From the Greek, "instead of" plus "name"Examples and Observations:
- The character of James "Sawyer" Ford in the ABC television program Lost regularly uses antonomasia to annoy his companions. His nicknames for Hurley have included "Lardo," "Kong," "Pork Pie," "Stay Puff," "Pillsbury," "Jabba," "Deep Dish," "Hoss," and "Jethro."
- Calling a lover "Casanova," an office worker "Dilbert," Elvis Presley "the King," Bill Clinton "the Comeback Kid," or Horace Rumpole's wife "She Who Must Be Obeyed"
- "When I eventually met Mr. Right I had no idea that his first name was Always."
(Rita Rudner) - "And it is that promise that 45 years ago today brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln’s Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream."
(Senator Barack Obama, acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, August 28, 2008) - "If the waiter has a mortal enemy, it is the Primper. I hate the Primper. HATE THE PRIMPER! If there's a horrifying sound a waiter never wants to hear, it's the THUMP of a purse on the counter. Then the digging sound of the Primper's claws trying to find makeup, hairbrushes, and perfume."
(Laurie Notaro, The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club) - Jerry: The guy who runs the place is a little temperamental, especially about the ordering procedure. He's secretly referred to as the Soup Nazi.
Elaine: Why? What happens if you don't order right?
Jerry: He yells and you don't get your soup.
(Seinfeld) - "I told you we could count on Mr. Old-Time Rock and Roll!"
(Murray referring to Arthur in Velvet Goldmine) - "I'm a myth. I'm Beowulf. I'm Grendel."
(Karl Rove)
Pronunciation: an-toe-no-MAZ-ya
Also Known As: antinomasia
