alliteration
UK[əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃn]US[əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃn]
n
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
Morpheme Breakdown
al
litera
tion
al
to
litera
letter
tion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'alliteration' is a modern English formation, coined directly from Latin components in the 17th century. It is built upon the Latin root 'littera' (meaning 'letter'), prefixed with 'ad-' (here assimilated to 'al-', meaning 'to' or 'toward') to imply a bringing together. The suffix '-ation' forms a noun denoting the process or result of that action. Thus, the term literally describes the process of 'bringing letters together' in a specific, repetitive pattern at the start of words, a stylistic device prominent in both ancient oral poetry and modern rhetoric.
Analysis
Structure: al (to) + litera (letter) + tion (noun suffix)
al: Latin origin, a form of the prefix 'ad-' meaning 'to' or 'toward'.
litera: Latin origin, meaning 'letter' of the alphabet.
tion: Latin origin, a noun-forming suffix indicating an action or result.
Examples
The poet used alliteration, like "wild and woolly," to create a rhythmic effect.
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" is a famous tongue twister based on alliteration.
The brand name "Coca-Cola" is memorable partly because of its alliteration.