asyndeton

[ uh-sin-di-ton, -tuhn ]

noun

1. Rhetoric. the omission of conjunctions, as in “He has provided people with jobs, with opportunity, with self-respect.”
2. Library Science. the omission of cross references, especially from a catalog.

asyndeton

/ æˈsɪndɪtən /

noun

1. the omission of a conjunction between the parts of a sentence
2. an asyndetic construction Compare syndeton

Other Words From

• as·yn·det·ic [as, -in-, det, -ik], adjective
• asyn·deti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of asyndeton¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin, from Greek, noun use of neuter of asýndetos “unlinked, loose” (equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + syndé(ein) “to tie together, bind” + -tos verbal adjective suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of asyndeton¹

C16: from New Latin, from Greek asundeton, from asundetos unconnected, from a- ¹+ sundein to bind together

Example Sentences

The asyndeton in this distich is odd, given the preceding series of connectives.

From Project Gutenberg

But the asyndeton resulting from the suppression of these words was felt to be intolerable.

From Project Gutenberg

The use of tmesis, asyndeton, anacoluthon, aposiopesis, hyperbaton, hyperbole, litotes, in Latin oratory and poetry.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore the figure asyndeton, whereby conjunctions are omitted, is highly commended by writers of rhetoric.

From Project Gutenberg