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Alliterating: meaning, definitions and examples

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alliterating

 

[ əˈlɪtəˌreɪtɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

literary technique

Alliterating refers to the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. This stylistic device is often used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, enhance mood, or emphasize particular ideas. It can also serve to make phrases more memorable and engaging. Writers employ alliteration to draw attention to certain phrases or to create a pleasing auditory quality in their writing.

Synonyms

consonance, repetition, sound pattern

Examples of usage

  • Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
  • She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
  • Betty Botter bought some butter.

Translations

Translations of the word "alliterating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 aliterante

🇮🇳 सभी वर्णों का समानता

🇩🇪 alliterierend

🇮🇩 aliterasi

🇺🇦 алітерація

🇵🇱 aliteracja

🇯🇵 頭韻法 (とういんほう)

🇫🇷 allitération

🇪🇸 aliteración

🇹🇷 aliterasyon

🇰🇷 운율 (운율)

🇸🇦 الجرس الصوتي

🇨🇿 aliterace

🇸🇰 aliterácia

🇨🇳 头韵 (tóuyùn)

🇸🇮 aliteracija

🇮🇸 alliteration

🇰🇿 аллитерация

🇬🇪 ალიტერაცია

🇦🇿 allitirasiya

🇲🇽 aliteración

Word origin

The term 'alliteration' comes from the Latin word 'alliteratio', which is derived from 'ad' meaning 'to' and 'littera' meaning 'letter'. It entered the English language in the late 15th century, originally used to refer to the stylistic use of words beginning with the same sound. Alliteration has been used in literature for centuries, notably in Old English poetry, where the repetition of sounds played an essential role in structure and rhythm. Over time, alliteration has evolved and been adopted in various forms of writing and speech, becoming a common literary device in both ancient and modern texts. It is widely recognized not only in poetry but also in brand names, slogans and children's literature as a way to create catchy and memorable phrases.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,661, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.