Definition of metonymy

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< metonym

metoo >

me·ton·y·my

-t

-m

) KEY

NOUN:
pl. me·ton·y·mies

A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated, as in the use of Washington for the United States government or of the sword for military power.

ETYMOLOGY:
Late Latin metnymia, from Greek metnumi : meta-, meta- + onuma, name; see n-men- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
meto·nymic (m

-n

k) KEY or meto·nymi·cal(Adjective), meto·nymi·cal·ly(Adverb)

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