Dear Geist,
Are the words
which is defined as “= repetitious.” Why do we have two words that are so similar and mean exactly the same thing?
—
Dear Wondering,
Language being what it is, the answer depends on which guide you consult—and maybe what country you live in. Yes,
edition, 1998) says much the same thing and reminds us that in the late 1800s, there were four—count ’em, four! —similar words in use: repetitive and repetitious, and also repetitional and repetitionary. Yikes!
— The Editors