“Tautological” (tawt-l-OJ-ih-kul) – from the Greek for “repeating what has been said” – means unnecessarily or uselessly repetitive.
Example (as used by Joyce Carol Oates in The New York Times): “Perhaps the very term novel of ideas is tautological, for what novel is barren of ideas, unshaped by ideas?”
[Ed. Note: Become a more persuasive writer and speaker ... build your self-confidence and intellect ... increase your attractiveness to others ... just by spending 10 VERY enjoyable minutes a day with ETR's new Words to the Wise CD Library.]
Copyright ETR, LLC, 2009
Similar Articles:
- Cri de Coeur – A “cri de coeur” (KREE duh KUR) – French for “cry of the heart” – is an anguished cry of distress or…
- Banal – Something that’s “banal” (BAY-nul or buh-NALL) is trivial or trite. The word is derived from a Frenc…
- Word to the Wise: Deus ex Machina – In ancient Greek drama, the "deus ex machina" – from the Greek for "god from the mach…
- Autodidact – An “autodidact” (aw-toh-DYE-dakt) – from the Greek – is someone who is self-taught. Example (as used…
- Eremite – An “eremite” (ER-uh-mite) – from the Greek for “living in the desert” – is a hermit, especially a re…
- Anagogic – Something that’s “anagogic” (an-uh-GOJ-ik) – from the Greek for “to lift up” – has a secondary spiri…
- A Little Post-Christmas Holiday Spirit – One of the best things about the holiday season is the Christmas spirit. But just because Christmas …