alliterative

[ uh-lit-uh-rey-tiv, -er-uh-tiv ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or characterized by alliteration:

   alliterative verse.

Other Words From

• al·liter·ative·ly adverb
• al·liter·ative·ness noun
• nonal·liter·ative adjective
• nonal·liter·ative·ly adverb
• nonal·liter·ative·ness noun
• unal·liter·ative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alliterative¹

First recorded in 1755–65; alliterat(ion) + -ive

Example Sentences

Even his alliterative name had mythic qualities: Ben Bradlee.

From The Daily Beast

Like Sigurd and Gudrún, The Fall of Arthur is in alliterative verse, a mode last fashionable in the 14th century.

From The Daily Beast

“More Mitt,” as Politico reported at least has the virtue of alliterative succinctness.

From The Daily Beast

Every alliterative couplet had two accented syllables, containing the same initial consonants, one in each of the two sections.

From Project Gutenberg

Schipper sees in it a mixture of septenaries, alexandrines, and alliterative verse.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover the alliterative element is considerable; the poet starts with two perfect lines, and ll.

From Project Gutenberg

It is written, like all old Teutonic work of the kind, in alliterative unrhymed rhythm.

From Project Gutenberg

The light rippling melody of this stanza is due, in considerable measure, to its fine alliterative structure.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boring
• redundant
• repetitive