Asyndeton is the rhetorical technique of deliberately omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses where they would conventionally appear. Parameters: (1) a sequence of grammatically parallel elements that could be joined by conjunctions, (2) the intentional omission of those conjunctions, (3) a purposeful effect — typically urgency, economy of expression, or emphasis through accumulation. Persistence mechanism: taught as a figure in rhetoric and composition, imitated by writers for stylistic effect, and analyzed in literary criticism. [formal: asyndeton | substrate: mind | horizon: a moment | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
asyndeton
Asyndeton is the rhetorical technique of deliberately omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses where they would conventionally appear. Parameters: (1) a sequence of grammatically parallel elements that could be joined by co…
Definition
Why it is in scope
Asyndeton is a human-made rhetorical construct: the deliberate omission of conjunctions from a series of coordinated words, phrases, or clauses to produce compression, acceleration, or emphasis. It is a technique of composition and performance, taught and analyzed within rhetoric and poetics.
Names and aliases
- asyndetonen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrtfjde400049zhnv4xb5z4fINSTANCE_OF →
Asyndeton IS a specific kind of figure of speech — deliberate omission of conjunctions between coordinate clauses for rhetorical effect. A competent speaker would call asyndeton a figure of speech. Nearest kind: figure-of-speech.
- cmrmuk5tl01n1d1nllgxavhaeSERVES →
Asyndeton is used for the sake of persuasion — the deliberate omission of conjunctions accelerates pace and intensifies emotional appeal, serving persuasive intent by design (Law 8d).
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Record identity
- Created
- Jul 21, 2026, 1:26 AM UTC
- Content hash
- d1e45a30c1684acc49253ea7739ed20b3cb78e56fbef1d511a96696b990d0dba