ABSTRACT
Metonymy is the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant. Like metaphor, metonymy used to be considered mainly a figure of speech, but is now recognized as a fundamental method of conveying meaning. Metonymy and synecdoche resemble each other but are not the same. All synecdoche is metonymy, but not all metonymy is synecdoche. Some metonyms are so common, they eventually become an accepted definition of the word. Some metonyms come into usage from a very specific incident, and hence may not be understandable without knowing the context. Such metaphors are less likely to become incorporated into our language. Couples who have been together for a long time often develop private metonyms. Dreams can use metonyms, in which one person or object is substituted for another. The lack of motion in the dream corresponds to the patient's symptoms: agoraphobia and immobilization.
