un-sesquipedalian
kwɪ
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To un-sesquipedalian
00:10
Un-sesquipedalian
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
sesquipedalian or sesquipedal (ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən, sɛsˈkwɪpədəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —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 | |
| sesquipedal or sesquipedal | |
| —adj | |
| —n | |
| [C17: from Latin sēsquipedālis of a foot and a half (coined by Horace in Ars Poetica), from | |
| 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
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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
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