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Webster 1913 Edition


Pleonasm

Ple′o-nasm

,,
Noun.
[L.
pleonasmus
, Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] to be more than enough, to abound, fr.[GREEK], neut. of [GREEK], more, compar. of [GREEK] much. See
Full
, a., and cf.
Poly-
,
Plus
.]
(Rhet.)
Redundancy of language in speaking or writing; the use of more words than are necessary to express the idea;
as, I saw it
with my own eyes
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Pleonasm

PLE'ONASM

,
Noun.
[L. pleonasmus; Gr. full, more, L. pleo, in impleo, to fill.] Redundancy of words in speaking or writing; the use of more words to express ideas, than are necessary. This may be justifiable when we intend to present thoughts with particular perspicuity or force.