onomastics

noun plural but singular or plural in construction on·o·mas·tics \-tiks\

Definition of ONOMASTICS

a : the science or study of the origins and forms of words especially as used in a specialized field

b : the science or study of the origin and forms of proper names of persons or places

: the system underlying the formation and use of words especially for proper names or of words used in a specialized field

— on·o·mas·ti·cian \ˌä-nə-mas-ˈti-shən\ noun

1930

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