Date: Wed, 5 Apr 1995 12:08:07 -0400 From: David Muschell Subject: Re: names to nouns >I've been off the list a while and have just come upon the names to >nouns discussion, so I hope I'm not repeating something already >presented. One possible term for the process of a name becoming a common >noun is _antonomasia_. Most of the sources I've looked at restrict the >term to use of a name as a generic, eg. calling someone a "Romeo" or a >"Scrooge," though I have dim recollections of seeing in print >"antonomasia" being used to describe the use of "coke" as "soft drink" >or "levis" as "denim pants." The Pyles/Algeo _Origins_ gives the term >_commonization_ for the "kind of functional shift" that produced >_lynch_, _boycott_, and _sandwich_. > >Bruce Southard >English Department >East Carolina University >ensoutha[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ecuvm1 >ensoutha[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ecuvm.cis.ecu.edu >919-328-6041 >919-328-4889 (FAX) Antonomasia is also a term for using a substitute title for a name: Mr. President, Your Honor, Governor, Your Grace, etc. It does also apply to using a personal name to single out someone or something as a "type": You Casanova, you, She's a real selfish Sandy, What a Dumbo, She's a regular Einstein.