SESQUIPEDALIAN

polysyllabic, sesquipedalian

(adjective) (of words) long and ponderous; having many syllables; “sesquipedalian technical terms”

sesquipedalian

(adjective) given to the overuse of long words; “sesquipedalian orators”; “this sesquipedalian way of saying one has no money”

sesquipedalian, sesquipedalia

(noun) a very long word (a foot and a half long)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

sesquipedalian (plural sesquipedalians)

A long word.

A person who uses long words.

Adjective

sesquipedalian (comparative more sesquipedalian, superlative most sesquipedalian)

(of a word or words) Long; polysyllabic.

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

Synonyms

• (of long words): polysyllabic

• (given to the use of long words): See Thesaurus:verbose

Antonyms

• (of long words): monosyllabic, brachysyllabic

• (given to the use of long words): See Thesaurus:concise

Source: Wiktionary


Ses*quip"e*dal, Ses`qui*pe*da"li*an, a. Etym: [Sesqui- + pedal: cf. F. sesquipédal, L. sesquipedalis.]

Definition: Measuring or containing a foot and a half; as, a sesquipedalian pygmy; -- sometimes humorously applied to long words.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

7 May 2025

RUNNER

(noun) a person who is employed to deliver messages or documents; “he sent a runner over with the contract”


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Coffee Trivia

The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.

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