I know what you're thinking. You're thinking this is a dinosaur. I'm sorry to say it is not so. The answer to this is more mind bending than you will believe. Try looking it up in the thesaurus. It is, in fact, a synonym for the book of synonyms - the thesaurus itself.

According to Dictionary.com, it is, "a list or collection of specialized terms, as those used in a particular field or subject area". Granted, it isn't quite the same as a thesaurus. It is, however, a much cooler word, and therefore, a much better word. So the next time you need to use the word "thesaurus", prove you have amazing diction to your listeners and use onomasticon in its place.

On`o*mas"ti*con (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (sc.), fr. . See Onomastic.]

A collection of names and terms; a dictionary; specif., a collection of Greek names, with explanatory notes, made by Julius Pollux about A.D.180.

 

© Webster 1913.

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