ANTONOMASIA

[an.ton.o.ma.sia] n [L, use of an epithet for a proper name, fr. Gk, fr. antonomazein to call by a new name, fr. anti- + onomazein to name, fr. onoma name--more at name] (ca. 1550): the use of a proper name to designate a member of a class (as a Solomon for a wise ruler); also: the use of an epithet or title in place of a proper name (as the Bard for Shakespeare)