Etymology of the English word alliteration
the English word
alliterationusing the English prefix
ad-derived from the Latin word
ad (to; near; to; to; to; near)
derived from the Medieval Latin word
alliteratioderived from the Humanistic Latin word
littera (letter; letter, epistle)
derived from the Etruscan word
litteraderived from the Greek word
diphthera, διφθέρα, διϕϑέρα (skin, leather, hide)
Date
The earliest known usage of alliteration in English dates from the 17th century.
Derivations in English
alliterative,
alliterateDerivations in other languages
French
allitérationCognates
Dutch
alliteratie, French
allitération, German
Alliteration, Norwegian
alliterasjon, Swedish
alliterationUsage
Word found in Modern English
