— assonant , adj. , n. — assonantal /as'euh nan"tl/ , assonantic , adj.
/as"euh neuhns/ , n.
1. resemblance of sounds.
2. Also called vowel rhyme . Pros. rhyme in which the same vowel sounds are used with different consonants in the stressed syllables of the rhyming words, as in penitent and reticence.
3. partial agreement or correspondence.
[ 1720-30; asson ( ant ) sounding in answer (see AS-, SONANT) + -ance -ANCE ]