What does pleonastical mean?
Pleonastical is an adjective used to describe writing or speech that is excessively wordy or verbose. It refers to the use of more words than necessary to express a thought or idea, often resulting in a complex or convoluted expression. This can be used to describe a variety of situations, from overly elaborate introductions to lengthy and redundant explanations. The term is often used in a negative light, implying that the speaker or writer is trying to impress or confuse rather than communicate effectively. However, it can also be used in a more neutral sense to describe writing or speech that is simply elaborate or ornate. In either case, pleonastical is a useful term for describing the use of language that is more elaborate than necessary.
adjective
Pleonastical refers to the use of more words than necessary to express a thought or idea, often resulting in a wordy or verbose expression. This can be used to describe writing or speech that is overly elaborate or redundant.
- 1. Excessively wordy or verbose writing or speech
- 2. Elaborate or ornate writing or speech
"The professor's pleonastical introduction to the lecture was a perfect example of how to lose an audience's attention from the start."
"The author's pleonastical writing style made the novel a chore to read."
"The professor's pleonastical introduction to the lecture was a perfect example of how to lose an audience's attention from the start."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of pleonastical
The word pleonastical comes from the Greek word 'pleon', meaning 'more', and the suffix '-astical', which is derived from the Latin word 'astus', meaning 'excess'. The term has been used in English since the 17th century to describe writing or speech that is excessively elaborate or redundant.
Usage notes
Pleonastical is typically used in a formal or academic context to describe writing or speech that is excessively wordy or verbose. It can also be used in a more neutral sense to describe writing or speech that is simply elaborate or ornate. In either case, the term is often used to imply that the speaker or writer is trying to impress or confuse rather than communicate effectively.