English Explanatory Dictionary

sesquipedalianism

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The practice of using long, sometimes obscure, words in speech or writing.
  2. A very long word.

Pronunciation

/sɛz.kwɪ.pəˈdɛl.i.ən.ɪsm̩/ /ˌsɛskwəpəˈdeɪli.ənɪzm̩/ en-us-sesquipedalianism.ogg

Word forms

sesquipedalianism sesquipedalianisms

Etymology

Surface form analyzed as sesquipedalian + -ism, from sesqui- (“one and a half”) + pedalian (“of the foot”). From Latin sēsquipedālis (“a foot and a half long; in metaphorical use, “of an unnatural length, huge, big””), from sēsqui (“one and a half times as great”) + pedālis (“foot”).

Related words

sesqui- sesquipedal sesquipedian sesquipedalian
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