Antonomasia.
Antonomasia, of the Latines called Nominatio
and Nominis permutatio, that is, a naming, or the
changing of a name, it is a forme of speech by which the Orator for a
proper name putteth another, as some name of dignity, office,
profession, science or trade.
1 By this figure when the Orator
speaketh to a king or a Prince, he saith, your Grace, your Highnesse,
or your Majestie: to a Noble man, your Lordship, your Honor.
2 Also in sted of a name or title, he useth a decent and due Epithite
thus, Reverend Father, honorable Judge. In this forme speaketh the
Apostle Paule, where he saith, Dearely beloved, and Salomon likewise
bringeth in “Christ calling his Church his sister, his love
and his dove”
Cant., and the Church in like
maner calling Christ her beloved.
3 The author by the name of his profession or science, as when we say,
the Philosopher for Aristotle: the Greeke Poet for Homer: the Romane
Orator for Cicero: the Psalmograph for David.
4 A man by the name of his countrey, as, the Persian, the Polonian,
the Germane, the Brittane.
5 Also when we give to one man the name of another for the affinities
sake of their maners or conditions. In praise thus, as when we call a
grave man a Cato, a just dealer an Aristides, a wise man a Salomon.
In dispraise, to call a glorious boaster a Thraso, an envious
detracter a Zoilus, a captious reprehender a Momus, a tyrant a Nero, a
voluptuous liver an Epicure.
The use of this figure
The use of this figure is both necessary & profitable, for the by
forme the orator when he speaketh to high dignities, he boweth
(as it were) the knee of his speech, and
lifteth up the eye of his phrase to the bright beames of earthly
glory, therby declaring his due reverence, and their high dignitie.
It helpeth much in praising
or dispraising, by the equall comparison, it serveth readily for copie
and varietie.
The Caution.
The faultes that may be committed in this figure are these, To give a
lesse name then the dignitie requireth, as speaking to a king to say,
Your worship, or in sted of a name of reverence
to use another that is base or
ridiculous, as speaking to a grave father, to call him gray beard: or
to use amorous termes, as
sweete
heart, and finally to use any name which is unfit for the
person to whom it is attributed or
undecent and unchast, either
in open
apparance, or in shadowed signification.
