Metonymy

Metonymy Metonymy denotes a transference of meaning which is based on contiguity of notions, not on resemblance. In cases of metonymy, the name of one object is used instead of another, closely connected with it. This may include: 1. The name of a part instead of the name of a whole (synecdoche:

Washington and London (= USA and UK) agree on most issues; He was followed into the room by a pair of heavy boots (= by a man in heavy boots). In a similar way, the word crown (to fight for the crown) may denote "the royal power/the king"; the word colours in the phrase to defend the colours of a school denotes the organization itself. 2. The name of a container instead of the contents: He drank a whole glass of whiskey (= drank the liquid contained in a glass). This is such a frequent type of transference of meaning in the language system that in many cases (like the latter example), it is not perceived as a stylistic device. Sometimes, however, the stylistic use of this change of meaning can be still felt, and then it is perceived as a figure of speech: The whole town was out in the streets (= the people of the town). 3. The name of a characteristic feature of an object instead of the object: The massacre of the innocents (= children; this biblical phrase is related to the killing of Jewish male children by King Herod in Bethlehem). 4. The name of an instrument instead of an action or the doer of an action: All they that take the sword, shall perish with the sword (= war, fighting). Let us turn swords into ploughs (= Let us replace fighting by peaceful work.