Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
- n. The use of more words than are required to express an idea; redundancy.
- n. An instance of pleonasm.
- n. A superfluous word or phrase.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- n. Redundancy in wording.
- n. A phrase involving pleonasm, that is, a phrase in which one or more words are redundant as their meaning is expressed elsewhere in the phrase.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
- n. Redundancy of language in speaking or writing; the use of more words than are necessary to express the idea.
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Redundancy of language; the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea.
- n. A redundant phrase or expression; an instance of redundancy of language.
- n. In medicine, excess in number or size.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- n. using more words than necessary
Etymologies
Examples
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The term pleonasm is a bit different, as it focuses on the concept of superfluity rather than repetition - words that are unnecessary.
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The pro-mufsidun Left and the media (if I may indulge in pleonasm) have constructed a “narrative” of the War on Terror, “narrative” having become the progressive antonym of “fact”.
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A pleonasm is a redundant expression in speaking or writing.
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_on_ 'is not properly to be called a pleonasm, merely because it is -- nothing at all.
International Weekly Miscellany - Volume 1, No. 6, August 5, 1850
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Still, he gets special bonus points for using "pleonasm," which we just don't see enough of in conversation.
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"Still, he gets special bonus points for using 'pleonasm'"
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Over the years, I'm sure I've read it more for pleasure than with purpose, less in the hope of resolving a confusion over "pleonasm" than to discover that "pleonasm" was something at all.
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This sort of pleonasm is the signature of Shall We Kiss, but there is no charm to this excess, and it feels almost indecent to watch something so haplessly try for a high quirk cache.
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Althouse is correct in her usage and you found no pleonasm Thesauri are great, aren't they?
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Since nectar is already the "drink of the gods", "nectar of the gods" is a pleonasm.
knitandpurl commented on the word pleonasm
"If pleonasm is the soul of offense, at least I know when to shut up."
The No Variations by Luis Chitarroni, translated by Darren Koolman, p 13
September 16, 2013
knitandpurl commented on the word pleonasm
"If pleonasm is the soul of offense, at least I know when to shut up."
The No Variations by Luis Chitarroni, translated by Darren Koolman, p 13
September 16, 2013
jmjarmstrong commented on the word pleonasm
JM has never seen a pleonasm he doesn't like in all of his many years on this Earth.
April 5, 2011
hgould3 commented on the word pleonasm
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
September 29, 2010
bilby commented on the word pleonasm
A pleonasma screen.
July 16, 2008
thinkingsage commented on the word pleonasm
It's kinda hard to read the comments on my LCD display. Maybe I should buy a new one.
July 16, 2008
seanahan commented on the word pleonasm
What was the felicitous pleonasm?
May 19, 2008
yarb commented on the word pleonasm
"...Professor Lamort's felicitous pleonasm."
- Nabokov, Ada, or Ardor.
May 17, 2008
toner commented on the word pleonasm
irregardless
January 24, 2007
nkocharh commented on the word pleonasm
"PIN number" and "ATM machine" are my bêtes noires.
December 13, 2006
pedalinfaith commented on the word pleonasm
A most exemplary example of battology. ;)
December 13, 2006
seanahan commented on the word pleonasm
Good example pedalinfaith. I like "Miller MGD" myself.
December 9, 2006
pedalinfaith commented on the word pleonasm
- from "Big Rio Grande River" by Austin Lounge Lizards
December 9, 2006
pedalinfaith commented on the word pleonasm
Please RSVP. :)
December 9, 2006