ONomatopoeia, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Nominis seu no∣minum fictio, the feigning of a name or names; derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, [onomatopoieo] nomen seu nomina fingo, fingo vocabula, á sono ea Page 63 deducens; to feign a name from the sound.
Nominis fictio, is a form of speech, whereby the oratour or speaker makes and feigns a name to some thing, imitating the sound or voice of that which it signifies, or else whereby he af∣fecteth a word derived from the name of a per∣son, or from the original of the thing which it expresseth: or,
It is a kinde of Metonymie, and it is pro∣perly said of words so feigned, that they resem∣ble or represent the sound of the thing signi∣fied.
A sonitu voces Onomatopoeia fingit;*
1 Bambalio, 2 Clangor, 3 Stridor, 4 Taratantara, 5 Murmur.
1. A stammerer. 2. The sound of a Trumpet. 3. A crashing noise, or the craking of a door. 4. The sound of the Trumpet. 5. The noise of water running, a running or buzzing noise.
Teucria, a Teucro. Dardania a Dardano.
English Examples of Onomatopeia.
This form of feigning and framing names is used 6. waies, viz.
1. By imitation of sound, as to say, a hurlibur∣ly signifying a tumult or uproar: likewise, rushing, lumbering, ratling, blustring, &c.
2. By imitation of voices, as, the roaring of Lions, the bellowing of bulls, the bleating of sheep, the grunting of swine, the croaking of frogs, &c.
Page 643. By the derivation from the original; the city Troy was so called by derivation from King Tros, and before that, it was called Teucria from Teucrus, and first of all Dardania from Dardanus; so Ninivie of Ninus.
4. By composition, as when we put two words together and make of them but one, as Orator-like, Sholar-like: thus also we call a churle, thick-skin; a niggard, pinch penny; a flatterer, pick-thank.
5. By reviving antiquity; touching this I re∣fer the reader to Chaucer, and to the shepherds Kalendar.
6. When we signifie the imitation of another mans property in speaking or w•iting; this form of speaking is more usual in the Greek tongue, and sometimes used in the Latine: as,
Patrissare, Matrissare, Platonissare, (i. e.) to imitate his father, to imitate his mother, to i∣mitate Plato, whi•h form our English tongue can scarce imitate, except we say he doth sa∣therize, Platonize, temporize, which is not much in use; yet we more usually follow this form, thus; I can not Court it, I can not Itali∣an it, (i. e.) I can not pe•form the duty or man∣ners of a Courtier, I cannot imitate the fashi∣on of an Italian.
