[ad. L. agnōminātiōn-em (also adn- and in med.L. ann-), n. of action, f. agnōminā-re: see AGNOMINATE. Also written ADNOMINATION and ANNOMINATION.]

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  1.  The giving of an agnomen or sumame; the name so given. rare–0.

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1692.  Coles, Agnomination, a sir-name. (Not in Johnson 1755.)

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1775.  Ash, Agnomination, the giving of a new name.

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  2.  Rhet. A kind of word-play, paronomasia; allusion of one word to another.

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1588.  Fraunce, Lawiers Logike, I. xii. 50. As for the pretty and conceipted chaunge of the woord, argumentum ab arguendo, it seemeth also a Rhetoricall agnomination.

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1601.  B. Jonson, Poetaster, III. i. 104. A kind of paranomasie, or agnomination.

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1657.  J. Smith, Myst. Rhet., 105. Agnomination is a pleasant sound of words, or a small change of names; or it is a present touch of the same letter, syllable, or word with a different meaning.

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  3.  Alliteration.

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1595–6.  R. Carew, in Shaks. Cent. Praise, 20. In Ecchoes and Agnominations.

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1605.  Camden, Rem., 27. The English and Welsh delighted much in licking the letter and clapping together Agnominations.

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1789.  Mrs. Piozzi, France & Italy, I. 239. They held agnominations … to be elegant.

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