Definition

1. Noun:
   • The repetition of consonants or consonant patterns, especially at the ends of words: A type of rhyme where the consonant sounds match, but the preceding vowel sounds do not. It is a form of half-rhyme or slant rhyme.

Usage

• Noun:
  • This poetic device is used to create a subtle, often dissonant, connection between words.
  • It is a common technique in modern and contemporary poetry to move away from perfect rhymes.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The poet used a consonant rhyme between "spoiled" and "spilled" to link the ideas subtly.
  • "Groaned" and "ground" form a consonant rhyme, creating a harsh, echoing effect.

Advanced Usage

• As a literary device: Consonant rhyme is often analyzed for its contribution to a poem's mood, tone, and sonic texture.
  • The prevalence of consonant rhyme in the poem contributes to its somber and unsettled atmosphere.

Variants and Related Words

• Half-rhyme / Slant rhyme (n): A broader category of near-rhyme that includes consonant rhyme as well as other imperfect sound correspondences (e.g., assonance).
• Assonance (n): The repetition of vowel sounds, often contrasted with consonant rhyme.
• Alliteration (n): The repetition of initial consonant sounds, which occurs at the beginning of words rather than the end.

Synonyms

• Consonance: Often used interchangeably with "consonant rhyme," though "consonance" can refer to consonant repetition in any position within words.
• Para-rhyme: A specific type of consonant rhyme where both the initial and final consonants match, but the vowels differ (e.g., "hall" and "hell").

Related Phrases

• Consonant cluster rhyme: A rhyme where a group (cluster) of consonants matches, rather than a single consonant sound.
  • The words "texts" and "tests" demonstrate a consonant cluster rhyme.

Noun

1. the repetition of consonants (or consonant patterns) especially at the ends of words