sesquipedalianadj.n.
/ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/ A. adj.
1.
a. Of words and expressions (after Horace's sesquipedalia verba ‘words a foot and a half long’, A.P. 97): Of many syllables.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > ornateness > [adjective] > using words of many syllables > of words: having many syllables
sesquipedal1611
foot-and-half-foot1616
sesquipedalian1656
tripod1798
crink-crank1865
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > [adjective] > syllable > consisting of > consisting of specific number > containing two or more syllables
polysyllable1589
sesquipedal1611
polysyllabical1656
sesquipedalian1656
polysyllabic1817
hyperdisyllable1843
multisyllabic1909
plurisyllabic1921
multisyllable1950
1656 T. Blount Glossographia (at cited word) Sesquipedalian words (verba sesquipedalia) used by Horace for great, stout, and lofty words; words that are very long, consisting of many Syllables.
1661 K. W. Confused Characters 3 Noddle puzling sesquepedalian words.
1787 J. Hawkins in Johnson Wks. XI. 215 Finding one of his sesquipedalian words hang fire.
1793 J. Beresford in W. Roberts Looker-on No. 77. 615 A set of sesquipedalian exclamations.
1807 R. Southey Spec. Eng. Poets I. Pref. p. xviii The verses of Stephen Hawes are as full of barbarous sesquipedalian Latinisms, as the prose of the Rambler.
1861 F. M. Müller Lect. Sci. Lang. (1864) 1st Ser. viii. 338 In these sesquipedalian compounds the significative root remains distinct.
1885 R. F. Burton tr. Arabian Nights' Entertainm. I. Foreword p. xii Sesquipedalian un-English words.
b. transferred. Given to using long words.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > ornateness > [adjective] > using words of many syllables
sesquipedalian1853
1853 E. C. Gaskell Cranford v Towards the end of her letter Miss Jenkyns used to become quite sesquipedalian.
2. Half a yard high or long.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily height > shortness > [adjective]
shorta900
littleOE
lowa1398
untallc1535
dwarfish1542
shrimpish1549
pygmy1592
shrubby1603
dapper1606
punya1616
runtisha1642
truss1674
sesquipedalian1741
smally1764
petite1766
elfin1796
scram1825
squibbish1826
gnomic1845
dwarf-like1850
knee-high to a grasshopper1851
underhanded1856
nanoid1857
whipping-snapping1861
scrunty1868
midget1875
short-set1883
sawed-off1887
strunty1897
munchkin1930
sawn-off1936
short-arsed1951
1741 Mem. Martinus Scriblerus xiv. 48 in A. Pope Wks. II Hast thou ever measur'd the gigantick Ethiopian, whose stature is above eight cubits high, or the sesquipedalian Pigmey?
3. Used for ‘very tall or big’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily height > tallness > [adjective]
higheOE
longeOE
elegant1516
tall1530
procere1542
tallish1748
towering1756
sesquipedalian1857
1857 A. Trollope Barchester Towers xxv This [half-crown] she sacrificed to the avarice of Mrs. Proudie's metropolitan sesquipedalian serving-man.
B. n.
1. A person or thing that is a foot and a half in height or length.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily height > shortness > [noun] > person
dwarfeOE
congeonc1230
go-by-ground?a1300
smalla1300
shrimpc1386
griga1400
gruba1400
murche1440
nirvil1440
mitinga1450
witherling1528
wretchocka1529
elf1530
hop-o'-my-thumb1530
pygmy1533
little person1538
manikin1540
mankin1552
dandiprat1556
yrle1568
grundy1570
Jack Sprat1570
squall1570
manling1573
Tom Thumb1579
pinka1585
squib1586
screaling1594
giant-dwarf1598
twattle1598
agate1600
minimus1600
cock sparrow1602
dapperling1611
modicum1611
scrub1611
sesquipedalian1615
dwarflinga1618
wretchcock1641
homuncio1643
whip-handle1653
homuncule1656
whippersnapper1674
chitterling1675
sprite1684
carliea1689
urling1691
wirling1691
dwarf man1699
poppet1699
durgan1706
short-arse1706
tomtit1706
Lilliputian1726
wallydraigle1736
midge1757
minikin1761
squeeze-crab1785
minimum1796
niff-naff1808
titman1818
teetotum1822
squita1825
cradden1825
nyaff1825
weed1825
pinkeen1850
fingerling1864
Lilliput1867
thumbling1867
midget1869
inch1884
shorty1888
titch1888
skimpling1890
stub1890
scrap1898
pygmoid1922
lofty1933
peewee1935
smidgen1952
pint-size1954
pint-sized1973
munchkin1974
1615 E. Hoby Curry-combe iii. 113 He thought fit by his variety, to make you knowne for a viperous Sesquipedalian in euery coast.
1656 T. Blount Glossographia A Sesquipedalian, one that is a foot and half high.
2. A sesquipedalian word.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > [noun] > syllabic sound > syllable > word having specific number > word having two or more syllables
polysyllable1570
polysyllabe1584
multisyllable1659
hyperdisyllable1678
sesquipedalian1830
plurisyllable1924
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > ornateness > [noun] > wordmongering > sesquipedalianism > sesquipedalian word
sesquipedalian1830
jaw-breaker1839
1830 Fraser's Mag. 1 350 What an amazing power in writing down hard names and sesquipedalians does not the following passage manifest!
1894 National Observer 6 Jan. 194/2 His sesquipedalians recall the utterances of another Doctor.
Derivatives
ˌsesquipeˈdalianism n. style characterized by the use of long words; lengthiness.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > ornateness > [noun] > wordmongering > sesquipedalianism
polysyllabicism1807
sesquipedalianism1863
sesquipedalism1873
big-wordiness1874
1863 Sat. Rev. 440 How dear to his heart must be that marvellous sesquipedalianism in which he ordinarily revels.
1887 W. C. Russell Bk. for Hammock (1893) 120 Everything must be done quickly at sea: there is no time for sesquipedalianism.
sesquiˈpedalism n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > ornateness > [noun] > wordmongering > sesquipedalianism
polysyllabicism1807
sesquipedalianism1863
sesquipedalism1873
big-wordiness1874
1873 F. Hall Mod. Eng. 148 The era of galvanized sesquipedalism and sonorous cadences.
ˌsesquipeˈdality n. sesquipedalian quality; transferred great length, lengthiness; also, ‘the practice of using long words’ (Ogilvie, 1882).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > [noun] > fact or condition of being long
length1597
sesquipedality1760
lengthiness1875
1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy II. ix. 59 With a breadth of back, and a sesquipedality of belly, which might have done honour to a Serjeant in the Horse-Guards.
1850 Fraser's Mag. 41 654 There is certainly some sesquipedality in the word.
1855 Fraser's Mag. 51 63 A most wonderful topknotted cock with a sesquipedality of wattle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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adj.n.1615