First Known Use: 1727
Dictionary
assonance
noun as·so·nance \ˈa-sə-nən(t)s\
: the use of words that have the same or very similar vowel sounds near one another (as in “summer fun” and “rise high in the bright sky”)
Full Definition of ASSONANCE
1
: resemblance of sound in words or syllables
2
a : relatively close juxtaposition of similar sounds especially of vowels b : repetition of vowels without repetition of consonants (as in stony and holy) used as an alternative to rhyme in verse
— as·so·nant \-nənt\ adjective or noun
— as·so·nant·al \ˌa-sə-ˈnan-təl\ adjective
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Origin of ASSONANCE
French, from Latin assonare to answer with the same sound, from ad- + sonare to sound, from sonus sound — more at sound
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