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alliteration Definition

al·lit·era·tion (ə lit′ər ās̸hən)

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

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.
  • include: Schemes, which include alliteration, chiasmus, etc. , have more to do with expression.
  • call: This is called alliteration and it's a useful tool in the poet's tool box.
  • employ: Hopkins also employed alliteration in many of his poems.
  • do: A question we do know the answer to would sound like this: why does the poet use alliteration?

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 Quotes

Apt Alliteration's artful aid.

—Churchill, Charles

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