polysyndeton

[ pol-ee-sin-di-ton, -tuhn ]

/ ˌpɒl iˈsɪn dɪˌtɒn, -tən /

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noun Rhetoric.

the use of a number of conjunctions in close succession.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Compare asyndeton.

Origin of polysyndeton

From New Latin, dating back to 1580–90; see origin at poly-, asyndeton

Words nearby polysyndeton

polysuspensoid, polysyllabic, polysyllable, polysyllogism, polysynaptic, polysyndeton, polysynthesism, polysynthetic, polytechnic, polytene, polytene chromosome

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for polysyndeton

polysyndeton

/ (ˌpɒlɪˈsɪndɪtən) /

noun

rhetoric the use of several conjunctions in close succession, esp where some might be omitted, as in he ran and jumped and laughed for joy

Also called: syndesis grammar a sentence containing more than two coordinate clauses

Word Origin for polysyndeton

C16: poly- + -syndeton, from Greek sundetos bound together

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012