sesquipedalian

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.4 Adjective 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.4.2 Antonyms 1.4.3 Translations 1.5 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Lit. “a foot and a half long”.

From sesqui-, from Latin sesqui (“‘one and a half’”); + pedal, from Latin pedis, form of pes (“‘foot’”), + adjective suffix -alis; + adjective suffix -ian.

Cognate to French sesquipédal, Latin sesquipedalis.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

sesquipedalian (plural sesquipedalians)

1. A person who uses long words.
2. A long word.

[edit] Adjective

sesquipedalian (comparative more sesquipedalian, superlative most sesquipedalian)

1. (of a word or words) long; polysyllabic.

   More people know the sesquipedalian word "antidisestablishmentarianism" than know what it means.

2. Pertaining to or given to the use of overly long words.

   Our dinner guest was so sesquipedalian that no one could understand what he said.

[edit] Synonyms

• (of long words): polysyllabic
• (given to the use of long words): bombastic, grandiloquent, long-winded, florid

[edit] Antonyms

• (of long words): monosyllabic, brachysyllabic
• (given to the use of long words): brief, terse, laconic

[edit] Translations

[edit] Related terms

• hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia
• sesquipedal
• sesquipedalianism — Literary style characterised by the use of long words.
• sesquipedalianist — A writer using sesquipedalianism
• sesquipedality