ses·qui·pe·da·li·an
/ˌ
Pronunciation[ses-kwi-pi-dey-lee-uhn, -deyl-yuh
–adjective Also, ses·quip·e·dal Pronunciation[ses-kwip-i-dl]
1. given to using long words.
2. (of a word) containing many syllables. –noun
3. a sesquipedalian word.
[Origin: 1605–15; < L sésquipedālis measuring a foot and a half (see sesqui-, pedal) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Perhaps the ultimate ironic word, and their aren’t too many words that are ironic in of themselves. We wonder why words like onomatopoeia don’t sound like the thing they’re describing or why monosyllabic takes so long to say. Well sesquipedalian is a word that wears its meaning on its proverbial sleeve. Dating back to 1615, from Latin, meaning: “words a foot-and-a-half long”, use it in a joke who probably only you will get.
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