CACOPHONY Meaning and
Definition
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Cacophony is a noun that refers to a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. It is derived from the Greek words ‘kakos’ meaning “bad” or “ill” and ‘phone’ meaning “voice” or “sound.” In essence, cacophony describes a combination of sounds that clash unpleasantly, creating a jarring or chaotic auditory experience.
The term cacophony is often used to depict noise that lacks harmony or balance, resulting in an overwhelming or bothersome effect on the ears and senses. It can refer to a collection of sounds that are excessively loud, dissonant, or lacking rhythm and melody. For instance, the loud horns blaring, sirens wailing, and construction noises in a busy city street can be described as a cacophony of sounds.
Cacophony serves as a literary device in writing, particularly poetry, where it helps to create atmosphere, convey emotions, or depict chaos. It is deliberately employed by authors to evoke aural dissonance or to mimic unpleasant or chaotic situations.
Moreover, cacophony is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a chaotic or discordant situation, not limited to the realm of sound. It can be applied to situations of confusion, disorder, disarray, or even a commotion of ideas or opinions.
In summary, cacophony is a noun that describes a blend of unpleasant, discordant sounds. Whether experienced audibly or metaphorically, cacophony represents a state of disharmony, loudness, or chaos that is capable of overwhelming the senses and causing discomfort.
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Disagreeable or harsh sound of words; discord.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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Etymology of CACOPHONY
The word "cacophony" has its origins in ancient Greek. It is derived from the combination of two Greek terms: "kakos", meaning "bad" or "ill", and "phone", meaning "voice" or "sound". When combined, these terms form "kakophonia" (κακοφωνία) in Greek, which translates to "bad sound" or "bad voice". The term was later adopted into English, where it evolved into its current form, "cacophony", with the same meaning of harsh, discordant, or unpleasant noise.
Similar spelling words for CACOPHONY
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