Crossword clues for sesquipedalian
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Sesquipedal \Ses*quip"e*dal\, Sesquipedalian \Ses`qui*pe*da"li*an\, a. [Sesqui- + pedal: cf. F. sesquip['e]dal, L. sesquipedalis.] Measuring or containing a foot and a half; as, a sesquipedalian pygmy; -- sometimes humorously applied to long words.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1610s, "person or thing a foot and a half long," from Latin sesquipedalia "a foot-and-a-half long," from sesqui- "half as much again" (see sesqui-) + stem of pes "foot" (see foot (n.)). As an adjective 1650s.\n
\nMeaning "sesquipedalian word" (1830) is from Latin sesquipedalia verba "words a foot-and-a-half long," in Horace's "Ars Poetica" (97), nicely illustrating the thing he is criticizing.
Wiktionary
a. 1 (context of a word or words English) long; polysyllabic. 2 Pertaining to or given to the use of overly long words. n. 1 A long word. 2 A person who uses long words.
WordNet
adj. given to the overuse of long words; "sesquipedalian orators"; "this sesquipedalian way of saying one has no money"
(of words) long and ponderous; having many syllables; "sesquipedalian technical terms" [syn: polysyllabic]
n. a very long word (a foot and a half long) [syn: sesquipedalia]
Usage examples of "sesquipedalian".
The traditional figure of hypostasis, depicted by Johannes Damascenus, Lentulus Romanus and Epiphanius Monachus as leucodermic, sesquipedalian with winedark hair.
When I was growing up, not only did my family walk around spouting sesquipedalians, but we viewed all forms of intellectual competition as a sacrament, a kind of holy water, as it were, to be slathered on at every opportunity with the largest possible aspergill.