alliteration

[ uh-lit-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the commencement of two or more stressed syllables of a word group either with the same consonant sound or sound group consonantal alliteration, as in from stem to stern, or with a vowel sound that may differ from syllable to syllable vocalic alliteration, as in each to all. Compare consonance ( def 4a ).
2. the commencement of two or more words of a word group with the same letter, as in apt alliteration's artful aid.

alliteration

/ əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the use of the same consonant ( consonantal alliteration ) or of a vowel, not necessarily the same vowel ( vocalic alliteration ), at the beginning of each word or each stressed syllable in a line of verse, as in around the rock the ragged rascal ran

alliteration

1. The repetition of the beginning sounds of words, as in “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,” “long-lived,” “short shrift,” and “the fickle finger of fate.”

Derived Forms

• alˈliterative, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alliteration¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Medieval Latin alliterātiōn-, stem of alliterātiō, equivalent to al- al- + literātiō, modeled after obliterātiō obliteration but intended to convey a derivative of littera “letter”

Word History and Origins

Origin of alliteration¹

C17: from Medieval Latin alliterātiō (from Latin al- (see ad- ) + litera letter), on the model of obliterātiō obliteration

Example Sentences

Cruz’s campaign has launched a “Crazy Colin” website but, alliteration aside, it hasn’t been an easy sell.

From Los Angeles Times

The alliteration continued with appellations like “Vindictive, vile villain violates voters’ vision” – truly a gem from Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas.

From Salon

“I hear alliteration is back in style.”

From Salon

And, yes, there were omissions, which, for the sake of alliteration and search engine optimization, we’ll call “snubs.”

From Los Angeles Times

This year, there is no brothel-based alliteration to be shared, as the proprietors decided to stick this one out.

From BBC

Related Words

• cadence
• poem
• poetry
• rhythm
• tune
• verse