Lantonomasia

Lantonomasia, more commonly known as antonomasia in rhetoric, is a figure of speech that uses a proper name to express a characteristic or, conversely, a descriptive epithet or title to refer to a known person. Some references list lantonomasia as a variant spelling, but the standard term in most scholarly work is antonomasia. The device relies on the association between a name or title and a set of qualities, roles, or identities.

There are two main forms. In the first, a well-known person is referred to by a descriptive nickname or epithet, allowing the audience to infer traits quickly. Examples include Shakespeare called “the Bard” or Margaret Thatcher referred to as “the Iron Lady.” In the second form, a famous name is used as a common noun to denote a type or class, such as describing someone as “an Einstein” to signify exceptional intelligence. This second usage is less common in English but appears in broader literary and journalistic practice.

Origins and usage: Antonomasia has ancient roots in classical rhetoric and has been employed by poets, dramatists, and prose writers to create concise, culturally resonant references. It can serve praise, critique, or playful wit, and is widely used in both formal writing and everyday speech.

Relation to other devices: Antonomasia is a form of metonymy and is related to epithet and eponym. It differs from simple metonymy by switching between a name and a descriptive label, or by treating a name as a descriptor for a type, rather than merely standing for a thing associated with it.

In modern usage, antonomasia remains a common stylistic device in literature, journalism, and political rhetoric, though it can risk oversimplification or caricature when overused.