pleonasm
əˌnæz 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; < Late Latin pleonasmus < Greek pleonasmós redundancy, surplus, derivative of pleonázein to be or have more than enough, itself derivative of pleíōn more (see pleo-)
1580–90; < Late Latin pleonasmus < Greek pleonasmós redundancy, surplus, derivative of pleonázein to be or have more than enough, itself derivative 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. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To pleonasm
00:10
Pleonasm
is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
pleonasm (ˈpliːəˌnæzəm) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the use of more words than necessary or an instance of this, such as a tiny little child |
| 2. | a word or phrase that is superfluous |
| [C16: from Latin pleonasmus, from Greek pleonasmos excess, from pleonazein to be redundant] | |
| pleo'nastic | |
| —adj | |
| pleo'nastically | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
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.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
pleonasm definition
Redundancy of expression; tautology.
(1995-03-25)
Related Searches
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
