PLEONASM

views updated

PLEONASM. A traditional term for the use of more words than necessary, either for effect or more usually as a fault of style, and any instance of that use, as in: They both got one each rather than They both got one or They got one each; That's a more superior product (superior already denotes ‘more’); It's a really new innovation (an innovation is already new). Some common pleonasms attract little comment, such as free gift (gifts are by definition free). Many famous writers have been pleonastic, including Shakespeare's double superlative ‘The most unkindest cut of all’ (Julius Caesar). See CIRCUMLOCUTION, PERIPHRASIS, REDUNDANCY, TAUTOLOGY.

More From encyclopedia.com