ABSTRACT
Metonymy refers to the extension of meaning based on an association between referents. Metaphor is much more extensive than metonymy and is fundamental in language. The extension of meaning is most prolific with verbs and prepositions. Verbs with numerous extended senses include intransitive come, fly, lie, run, stand, stay and stop and transitive break, cut, get, hit, make, see and take. In Old English prepositions were commonly compounded with verbs and this constituted a major means of word formation. In Modern English this method of word formation continues, but the part the Old English prepositions play has been greatly reduced since their place in this context has been taken by Latin forms and to some extent Greek forms. Prepositions make up only a small fraction of the vocabulary in English, Latin and Ancient Greek, but combinations of preposition and verb account form a large proportion of the vocabulary in all three languages.
