sesquipedalian
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Latin sesquipedalis (literally “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.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
sesquipedalian (plural sesquipedalians)
- A long word.
- 1830, On the Art of Rising in Prose The New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, part 2, v. 29, Henry Colburn and Co., page: 162:
- “The fine old fellow,” as a Northern contemporary of ours patronizingly calls him, certainly rolled out his sesquipedalians with a majesty previously unknown, and gave a fine organ-like swell to his full-blow periods;
- 1927, John S. Farmer, William Ernest Henley, A Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English: Abridged from the Seven-volume Work, Entitled "Slang and Its Analogues", Taylor & Francis, page: 164:
- Fleet-streetese, the so-called English written to sell by the Fleet-streeter (q.v.), or baser sort of journalist: a mixture of sesquipedalians and slang, of phrases worn threadbare and phrases sprung from the kennel;
- 1952, Hannah More, Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, page: 220:
- ‘Sometimes we converse in ballad-rhymes, sometimes in Johnsonian sesquipedalians; at tea we condescend to riddles and charades.’
- 1830, On the Art of Rising in Prose The New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, part 2, v. 29, Henry Colburn and Co., page: 162:
- A person who uses long words.
- 2008, Richard Dawkins, The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing,Oxford University Press, page: 106:
- Word-watchers, verbivores, and sesquipedalians love a challenge.
- 2009, Sally Adams, Wynford Hicks, Interviewing for Journalists, Taylor & Francis, page: 97:
- ‘What sort of writer is the English professor looking for?’ / ‘He wants a sesquipedalian, of course.’
- 2012, Jonathan Herring, How to Argue: Powerfully, Persuasively, Positively, FT Press, chapter 8, page: ?:
- Don’t be a sesquipedalian! / Yes, you guessed right. A sesquipedalian is a person who enjoys long words.
- 2008, Richard Dawkins, The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing,Oxford University Press, page: 106:
Adjective [edit]
sesquipedalian (comparative more sesquipedalian, superlative most sesquipedalian)
- (of a word or words) long; polysyllabic.
- More people know the sesquipedalian word "antidisestablishmentarianism" than know what it means.
- 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.
Synonyms [edit]
- (of long words): polysyllabic
- (given to the use of long words): bombastic, grandiloquent, long-winded, florid, prolix
Antonyms [edit]
- (of long words): monosyllabic, brachysyllabic
- (given to the use of long words): brief, terse, laconic
Translations [edit]
of long words
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given to the use of long words
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Derived terms [edit]
- sesquipedalianism — literary style characterised by the use of long words.
- sesquipedalianist — a writer using sesquipedalianism.
- sesquipedaliophobia – fear of long words.
