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antonomasia

an·to·no·ma·sia [ àntənə máyə ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. using title instead of name: the use of a title or formal description such as "Your Highness" or "His Excellency" in place of somebody's proper name

2. using proper name for general idea: the use of a proper name as a common noun to refer to somebody or something with associated characteristics, e.g. when a strong young man is called "a Hercules"

[Mid-16th century. < Latin< Greek antonomazein "name instead" < anti- "against, instead" + onoma "name"]
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