Poetic Terms Dictionary
Figure of Speech

Asyndeton

From Greek asyndeton: unconnected. Valued in classical oratory for urgency; the opposite of polysyndeton, which slows and accumulates.

Definition

The omission of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses, creating a rapid, compressed rhythm.

Example

'I came, I saw, I conquered.' (Julius Caesar) — three verbs without 'and' or 'then.'

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