Defn: To compose alliteratively; also, to constitute alliteration.
ALLITERATION
Al*lit`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. ad + litera letter. See Letter.]
Defn: The repetition of the same letter at the beginning of two or
more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals;
as in the following lines: -
Behemoth, biggest born of earth, upheaved His vastness. Milton.
Fly o'er waste fens and windy fields. Tennyson.
Note: The recurrence of the same letter in accented parts of words is also called alliteration. Anglo-Saxon poetry is characterized by alliterative meter of this sort. Later poets also employed it. In a somer seson whan soft was the sonne, I shope me in shroudes as I a shepe were. P. Plowman.
ALLITERATIVE
Al*lit"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, alliteration; as,
alliterative poetry.
— Al*lit"er*a*tive*ly, adv.
— Al*lit"er*a*tive*ness, n.
ALLITERATOR
Al*lit"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who alliterates.
ALLIUM
Al"li*um, n. Etym: [L., garlic.] (bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants, including the onion, garlic, leek, chive, etc.