What is the use of a word of common or general signification for the name of a particular thing; as, "He has gone to town," for, "He has gone to London." called?
autonomasy — The use of a word of common or general signification for the name of a particular thing; as, "He has gone to town," for, "He has gone to London.". (Webster's 1913.)
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00