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sesquipedalian

Pronunciation: /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/
Definition of sesquipedalian

adjective

formal
  • (of a word) polysyllabic; long:sesquipedalian surnames
  • characterized by long words; long-winded:the sesquipedalian prose of scientific journals

Origin:

mid 17th century: from Latin sesquipedalis 'a foot and a half long', from sesqui- (see sesqui-) + pes, ped- 'foot'

sesquipedalian in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of sesquipedalian in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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