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alliteration definition

al·lit·era·tion (ə lit′ər ā′s̸hən)

noun

repetition of an initial sound, usually of a consonant or cluster, in two or more words of a phrase, line of poetry, etc. (Ex.: “What a tale of terror now their turbulency tells!”)

Etymology: ML alliteratio < L ad-, to + littera, letter

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

alliteration Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • use: You can write a poem using alliteration, where each line has three or four words beginning with the same letter or letters.

Adjective modifier

  • more: Frankly, I am stunned that there isn't more alliteration about.

Preposition: in

  • poem: To be able to identify the use of alliteration in poems and comment on the effect this has to the overall poem.
alliteration usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

alliteration quotes

Apt Alliteration's artful aid.

-Churchill, Charles

alliteration quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"alliteration." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/alliteration>

APA Style

alliteration. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/alliteration

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