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sesquipedalianism
[
ses-kwi-pi-
dey
-lee-
uh
n
,
-
deyl
-y
uh
n
]
Origin
ses·qui·pe·da·li·an
/
ˌsɛs
kwɪ
pɪˈdeɪ
li
ən
,
-ˈdeɪl
yən
/
Show Spelled
[
ses-kwi-pi-
dey
-lee-
uh
n
,
-
deyl
-y
uh
n
]
Show IPA
adjective
Also,
ses·quip·e·dal
/
sɛsˈkwɪp
ɪ
dl
/
Show Spelled
[
ses-
kwip
-i-dl
]
Show IPA
.
1.
given to using long words.
2.
(of a word) containing many
syllables
.
noun
3.
a sesquipedalian
word
.
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:08
:07
:06
:05
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Sesquipedalianism
is always a great word to know.
So is
ninnyhammer
. Does it mean:
So is
doohickey
. Does it mean:
So is
zedonk
. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Origin:
1605–15;
<
Latin
sēsquipedālis
measuring a foot and a half (
see
sesqui-
,
pedal
) +
-an
Related forms
ses·qui·pe·dal·i·ty
/
ˌsɛs
kwɪ
pɪˈdæl
ɪ
ti
/
Show Spelled
[
ses-kwi-pi-
dal
-i-tee
]
Show IPA
,
ses·qui·pe·da·li·an·ism,
ses·quip·e·dal·ism
/
sɛsˈkwɪp
ɪ
dlˌɪz
əm
,
‐kwɪˈpid
lˌɪz
əm
/
Show Spelled
[
ses-
kwip
-i-dl-iz-
uh
m
,
‐kwi-
peed
-l-iz-
uh
m
]
Show IPA
,
noun
un·ses·qui·pe·da·li·an,
adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To
sesquipedalianism
Collins
World English Dictionary
sesquipedalian
or
sesquipedal
(ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən, sɛsˈkwɪpəd
ə
l)
—
adj
1.
tending to use very long words
2.
(of words or expressions) long and ponderous; polysyllabic
—
n
3.
a polysyllabic word
[C17: from Latin
sēsquipedālis
of a foot and a half (coined by Horace in
Ars Poetica
), from
sesqui-
+
pedālis
of the foot, from
pēs
foot]
sesquipedal
or
sesquipedal
—
adj
—
n
[C17: from Latin
sēsquipedālis
of a foot and a half (coined by Horace in
Ars Poetica
), from
sesqui-
+
pedālis
of the foot, from
pēs
foot]
sesquipe'dalianism
or
sesquipedal
—
n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
sesquipedalian
1615, from L. sesquipedalia verba "words a foot-and-a-half long," in Horace's "Ars Poetica" (97), nicely illustrating the thing he is criticizing, from sesqui- "half as much again" (see
sesquicentennial
) + pes "foot" (see
foot
)
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
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