Which term describes substituting the name of an entity with something closely associated with it?

• A. Metonymy
• B. Allegory
• C. Metaphor
• D. Simile

Answer: (A)

The correct term for substituting the name of an entity with something closely associated with it is metonymy. This literary device involves using a related term or attribute to refer to something larger or more complex. For example, saying "the crown" to refer to royal authority or "the White House" to discuss the U.S. government illustrates how metonymy works. This allows writers and speakers to convey ideas more richly and succinctly, as it relies on the audience's understanding of the associations between the terms used.

In contrast, allegory refers to a narrative with a deeper meaning, often conveying moral or political messages through symbolic figures, actions, or events. Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike entities without using "like" or "as," while simile makes such comparisons using those terms. These different devices serve unique purposes in language, but metonymy specifically focuses on the use of associative relationships.