loose sentence
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of loose sentence
First recorded in 1890–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With their loose sentence structure and the melodic give and take allowing a team approach to conversation I knew they were Guyanese.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
![]()
A loose sentence is one in which the meaning is complete at one or more points before the end.
From Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism by Painter, F. V. N. (Franklin Verzelius Newton)
It gives to prose much of the dignity of the period, together with the familiarity of the loose sentence.
From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)
The following is a loose sentence: “I stood on the bridge at midnight, as the clocks were striking the hour.”
From The Art Of Writing & Speaking The English Language Word-Study and Composition & Rhetoric by Cody, Sherwin
Further praise E.K. grants the author because he avoids loose sentence structure and affects the oratorical period.
From Rhetoric and Poetry in the Renaissance A Study of Rhetorical Terms in English Renaissance Literary Criticism by Clark, Donald Lemen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.