pleonasm
[ plee-uh-naz-uhm ]
/ ˈpli əˌnæz əm /
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noun
the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy.
an instance of this, as free gift or true fact.
a redundant word or expression.
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QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of pleonasm
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-)
OTHER WORDS FROM pleonasm
ple·o·nas·tic, adjectiveple·o·nas·ti·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby pleonasm
pleomastia, pleomorphic, pleomorphic lipoma, pleomorphism, pleon, pleonasm, pleonastic, pleonosteosis, pleopod, pleoptics, plerion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for pleonasm
British Dictionary definitions for pleonasm
pleonasm
/ (ˈpliːəˌnæzəm) /
noun rhetoric
the use of more words than necessary or an instance of this, such as a tiny little child
a word or phrase that is superfluous
Derived forms of pleonasm
pleonastic, adjectivepleonastically, adverbWord Origin for pleonasm
C16: from Latin pleonasmus, from Greek pleonasmos excess, from pleonazein to be redundant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medical definitions for pleonasm
pleonasm
[ plē′ə-năz′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.