From answers.com Pleonasm, n 1.a, The use of more words than are required to express an idea; redundancy. 1.b. An instance of pleonasm. 2. A superfluous word or phrase.
See this comparison of pleonasm, tautology and redundancy; and playing with Pleo.
Etymology: from Latin pleonasmus, Greek Pleonasmós ('more-ness') excess, redundancy.
Usage: A funny example in this anectode of Richard Feynmann.
pleonasm
-
- Lexiterian
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:46 am
- Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
- Contact:
pleonasm
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." -- Mark Twain
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 8105
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
- Location: Finger Lakes, NY
Ah, the loverly feeling of schadenfreude. The "comparison" link above leads to a page that titled Redundancies, Pleonams, and Tautologies. Gotta love it!
I admit I haven't read the details, so I won't comment on the rest of the article.
The Feynman bit is rather cute, though. In case you look, it's the Murray and Richard bit.
I admit I haven't read the details, so I won't comment on the rest of the article.
The Feynman bit is rather cute, though. In case you look, it's the Murray and Richard bit.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
Return to “Good Word Suggestions”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 56 guests