synonymy

noun

Etymology: From French synonymie and its etymon Late Latin synōnymia, from Ancient Greek συνωνυμία (sunōnumía), from συνώνυμος (sunṓnumos, “of like name”) + -ία (-ía, abstract noun suffix). By surface analysis, synonym + -y or syn- + -onymy. Doublet of synonymia.

1. A certain degree of similarity between the meaning(s) of several (synonymous) words or phrases. (See Usage notes below.)
2. A list or collection of synonyms, often compared and contrasted.
3. The use of synonyms to clarify or explain one's meaning.
4. The study of synonyms.
5. A system of synonyms.
6. The state of not being the name to be used, of being a synonym.

   “sink into synonymy”

   “In 1924 this name was reduced to synonymy.”

7. A group or list of synonyms.

   “The synonymy of Tachina is extensive.”

   “Descriptions are followed by a synonymy of the names that have been applied in the literature .”