alliteration

Etymology

None

Synonyms, partial synonyms, and alternate spellings

alliteratio, figure of like letter, homoeopropheron, homoeoprophoron

Definition

The occurrence of one or more of the same consonants or semi-vowels at the beginnings of words; a type of CONSONANCE.

Example

Free! The most piteous thing amid all the black ruin of war-time, amid the broken fortunes of the masters, the blighted hopes of mothers and maidens, and the black an empire,--- the most piteous thing amid all this was the black freedman who threw down his hoe because the world called him free. What did such a mockery of freedom mean? Not a cent of money, not an inch of land, not a mouthful of victuals,-- not even ownership of the rags on his back. Free! (Du Bois et al 2018[1903]:111)

Kendi, Ibram X., and W. E. B. Du Bois. The Souls of Black Folks: With “ The Talented Tenth” and “ The Souls of White Folks.” Penguin Books, 2018.