The aim of the article is to analyze the functioning of precedent onomastic units in Chekhov's novella. We use in this study the method of continuous sampling of precedent proper names, the descriptive method, observation, and the contextual semantic analysis. We reveal the spheres that serve as the sources of precedent names, and specific features of their functioning in the host context. The semantic structure of the analyzed units is examined. Consequently, two groups of precedent names are distinguished: those functioning in a denotative way, used in the direct meaning and indicating the original denotation, and those functioning in a connotative way, which acquire additional meanings due to the actualization of differential features. Development mechanisms of connotative meanings of precedent names are revealed.
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