Sesquipedalian
Word of the Day
What is Sesquipedalian?
adjective
Characterized by long words; long-winded.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen as a wink to word lovers — meta-vocabulary at its finest.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
She turned a simple “yes” into a sesquipedalian flourish.
The sesquipedalian jargon alienated readers.
He adopted a less sesquipedalian style for the blog.
Word Origins
Latin sesquipedalis “a foot and a half long,” from sesqui- (one and a half) + pes (foot)
Horace warned poets against sesquipedalia verba (overlong words).
First appearance in English: 17th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
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Noun:
Sesquipedalianism can obscure meaning.
-
Adjective:
A verbose draft needed cutting.
-
Adjective:
Grandiloquent speeches wowed nobody.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: sesquipedal
- French: sesquipédalien
- German: sesquipedalianisch (selten) / wortreich
- Italian: sesquipedale
- Portuguese: sesquipedalino (raro) / prolixo
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Verbose
Wordy but not necessarily polysyllabic.
Grandiloquent
Lofty and showy; sesquipedalian focuses on length.
Circumlocutory
Roundabout phrasing rather than long words.
Fun Facts
- The word itself performs what it describes — delightfully self-referential.
- “Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia” (joking term) is fear of long words.
Cultural Usage
- Horace mocked sesquipedalian diction in satire.
- Academic prose sometimes tilts sesquipedalian.
Common Mistakes
Not a compliment in editing notes!
Micro Story
His sesquipedalian memo obfuscated a simple plan.