synonymy etymology

Etymology

  • Greek: synōnymia, from syn- ("together") + onyma ("name")

Meaning

Synonymy refers to the existence of multiple words or expressions that have the same or nearly the same meaning within a language.

Origin

The concept of synonymy has been recognized since ancient times.

  • In the 4th century BC, the Greek philosopher Aristotle discussed synonyms in his work on logic, "Categories".
  • The term "synonym" was first coined in the 1st century AD by the Roman scholar Quintilian in his "Institutio Oratoria".
  • In the Middle Ages, European scholars continued to study and use synonyms, particularly in the context of rhetoric and lexicography.

Significance

Synonymy plays a crucial role in language by:

  • Allowing for precise communication and the avoidance of repetition.
  • Providing speakers and writers with a rich vocabulary to express subtle nuances of meaning.
  • Facilitating the understanding of complex ideas and concepts.

Examples

Examples of synonyms include:

  • Happy, joyful, glad
  • Big, large, huge
  • Quickly, rapidly, swiftly

synonymy relate terms

  • synonymous

    Etymology Derived from Greek syn meaning together or with onym meaning n

  • synonym

    Etymology Origin Greek syn together onyma name Meaning A word or phras

  • acronym

    Acronym Etymology From Greek akron topmost and onyma name Meaning A word

  • allonym

    Etymology From Greek allos other onyma name Meaning A pseudonym or pen n

  • ananym

    Etymology From Greek ἀνά aná up back ὄνομα ónoma name Meanin

  • anonymous

    Etymology The word anonymous is derived from the Greek word anōnymos which means

  • antonomasia

    Etymology Greek ἀντονομασία antonomasia Latin antonomasia Meaning

  • antonym

    Etymology Antonym is derived from the Greek words anti meaning against and onom

  • binomial

    Etymology From New Latin binomialis from bini two nominalis of names Mean

  • caconym

    Etymology From Greek κακός kakós bad evil ὄνυμα ónuma name Me

  • cognomen

    Etymology cog no men Latin cognōmen Meaning A personal name used to distinguish on

  • denominate

    Etymology Denom Latin denarius silver coin inate Latin suffix to make Me

  • eponym

    Etymology The word eponym is derived from two Greek roots Epi ἐπί meaning up

  • eponymous

    Etymology The word eponymous is derived from the Greek words epi upon and onoma

  • heteronym

    Etymology From Modern Latin heteronym from Greek heteros different onyma name

  • homonym

    Etymology The word homonym is derived from two Greek words homo meaning same on

  • homonymous

    Homonymous Etymology Homonymous etymology refers to the phenomenon where two or more word

  • hyponymy

    Etymology and Origin Hypo from Greek meaning under nym from Greek meaning name

  • ignominious

    Etymology The word ignominious originates from Latin in meaning not or withou

  • ignominy

    Etymology Latin ignominia Proto Indo European n̥ gmen yo from n̥ not gmen

  • innominable

    Etymology The word innominable is derived from the Latin word innominabilis which me

  • Jerome

    Etymology and Origin Jerome is a masculine name derived from the Greek name Hieronymos

  • matronymic

    Etymology Matronymic is derived from two Greek words mater mother onyma nam

  • metonymy

    Etymology Metonymy Derived from the Greek words meta beyond and onoma name me

  • metronymic

    Etymology metro from Greek mētrō meaning mother nymic from Greek nym os

  • misnomer

    Etymology The word misnomer is derived from two Latin words mis meaning wrong or

  • moniker

    Etymology The word moniker is derived from the Greek word monos meaning single a

  • name

    Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It is a branch of historica

  • nomenclature

    Etymology Nomenclature is derived from the Latin terms nomen name and calare t

  • nominal

    Etymology From Latin nominalis meaning relating to a name Derived from nomen me

  • nominate

    Etymology The word nominate comes from the Middle English word nominaten which in tu

  • noun

    Etymology Noun derives from the Latin word nomen which means name Meaning A noun

  • onomastic

  • onomatopoeia

    Etymology Greek onomatopoiia from onoma onomatos name poiein to make Mea

  • paronomasia

    Etymology From Ancient Greek παρονομασία paronomasia from παρά pará

  • paronym

    Paronym Etymology From Late Latin paronymus meaning derived from the same name rela

  • patronym

    Etymology Greek patrόs father ónyma name Meaning A patronym is a surna

  • patronymic

  • praenomen

    Etymology Latin praenomen name placed before From prae before nomen name

  • pronoun

    Etymology The word pronoun is derived from the Latin word prōnōmen which means i

  • pseudonym

    Etymology Greek pseudo false Latin ending nym name Meaning A fictitious

  • renown

    Etymology The word renown originates from the Old French word renom which in turn de

  • synonym

    Etymology Origin Greek syn together onyma name Meaning A word or phras

  • synonymy

    Etymology Greek synōnymia from syn together onyma name Meaning Synonymy

  • synonymous

    Etymology Derived from Greek syn meaning together or with onym meaning n

  • toponym

    Definition of toponym A toponym is a name for a place It can be a name for a city town

  • exquisite

    Etymology The word exquisite comes from the Latin word exquisitus meaning chosen ou

  • psychology

    Etymology Psycho from Greek psyche meaning mind soul or breath logy from Gree

  • fear

    Etymology Fear derives from the Middle English word fere meaning sudden fright or

  • theater

    Etymology The word theater originates from the Greek word theatron which is compose

  • system

    Etymology The word system comes from the Late Latin systema which is derived from t

  • reprimand

    Etymology Reprimand comes from the French word réprimander which in turn comes from t

  • necessary

    Etymology Necessary from Latin necessarius meaning indispensable inevitable Mea

  • robust

    Etymology The word robust comes from the Latin word robur meaning oak tree Mean

  • baptize

    Etymology Origin Greek βαπτίζω baptizō Meaning to dip plunge or immerse