sesquipedalianism en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˌsɛskwəpəˈdeɪli.ənɪzm̩/ (US)
- /sɛz.kwɪ.pəˈdɛl.i.ən.ɪsm̩/ (UK)
Etymology
Surface form analyzed as sesquipedalian + -ism, from sesqui- (“one and a half”) + pedalian (“of the foot”). From Latin sēsquipedālis (“a foot and a half long; in metaphorical use, “of an unnatural length, huge, big””), from sēsqui (“one and a half times as great”) + pedālis (“foot”).
Meanings
-
(uncountable) The practice of using long, sometimes obscure, words in speech or writing.
His voice here is a marvelous juxtaposition of cool elegance, unaffected hipness, unabashed sesquipedalianism ("the rich bouquet of exuded sebaceousness") and swell conversational slang (...)
1995, Michael Cart, From Romance to Realism, →ISBN, page 257:
- (countable) A very long word.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sesquipedalianisms | Number=Plur | lexicographic |