paronomasia
[ par-uh-noh-mey-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh ]
/ ˌpær ə noʊˈmeɪ ʒə, -ʒi ə, -zi ə /
noun Rhetoric.
the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect, as humor or a dual meaning; punning.
a pun.
Origin of paronomasia
OTHER WORDS FROM paronomasia
par·o·no·mas·tic [par-uh-noh-mas-tik] /ˌpær ə noʊˈmæs tɪk/, adjective par·o·no·mas·ti·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby paronomasia
parokheth,
parol,
parole,
parolee,
paromphalocele,
paronomasia,
paronychia,
paronym,
paronymous,
paroophoron,
parophthalmia
Example sentences from the Web for paronomasia
The only grounds for this theory are the easiness of the Greek style and the paronomasia in iv.
Reuss renders the paronomasia, "qu'il soit cach ou lch en Israel."
The Expositor's Bible: The First Book of Kings |F. W. Farrar
British Dictionary definitions for paronomasia
paronomasia
/ (ˌpærənəʊˈmeɪzɪə) /
noun
rhetoric
a play on words, esp a pun
Derived forms of paronomasia
paronomastic (ˌpærənəʊˈmæstɪk), adjective paronomastically, adverbWord Origin for paronomasia
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