— paronomastic /par'euh noh mas"tik/ , adj. — paronomastically , adv.
/par'euh noh may"zheuh, -zhee euh, -zee euh/ , n. Rhet.
1. the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect, as humor or a dual meaning; punning.
2. a pun.
[ 1570-80; paronomasía a play on words, assonance, deriv. of paronomázein to make a slight name-change ( par- PAR- + onomázein to name, deriv. of ónoma NAME); see -IA ]