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Definition of pleonasm - 5 dictionary results

ple⋅o⋅nasm

  [plee-uh-naz-uhm]
Use pleonasm in a Sentence
–noun
1. the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy.
2. an instance of this, as free gift or true fact.
3. a redundant word or expression.
Origin:
1580–90; < LL pleonasmus < Gk pleonasmós redundancy, surplus, deriv. of pleonázein to be or have more than enough, itself deriv. of pleíōn more (see pleo- )

Related forms:
ple⋅o⋅nas⋅tic, adjective
ple⋅o⋅nas⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pleonasm
ple·o·nasm   (plē'ə-nāz'əm)   
n.  

    1. The use of more words than are required to express an idea; redundancy.

    2. An instance of pleonasm.

  2. A superfluous word or phrase.


[Late Latin pleonasmus, from Greek pleonasmos, from pleonazein, to be excessive, from pleōn, more; see pelə-1 in Indo-European roots.]
ple'o·nas'tic (-nās'tĭk) adj., ple'o·nas'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

pleonasm 
"redundancy in words," 1586, from L.L. pleonasmus, from Gk. pleonasmos, from pleonasein "to be more than enough," from pleon "more," comp. of polys "much," from PIE *ple- (see poly-).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

pleonasm ple·o·nasm (plē'ə-nāz'əm)
n.
An excess in the number or size of parts.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

pleonasm
Redundancy of expression; tautology.
(1995-03-25)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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