English
Etymology
From Latin sesquipedalis, a foot and a half long, or, in metaphorical use, of an unnatural length, huge, big, from sesqui, one and a half times as great + pedalis, foot.

Pronunciation
w:X-SAMPA|X-SAMPA: [%SEs.kwI.pE."dA5.i.An.Is'm]
audio|en-us-sesquipedalianism.ogg|Audio (US)

Noun
en-noun

1. The practice of using long, sometimes obscure, words in speech or writing.
2. A word that is a foot-and-a-half long; a very long word.

1992 - from a sign hanging in a writing class at the Defense Information School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.
:"No Sesquipedalianisms."

Related terms
sequi-
sesquipedal
sesquipedian
sesquipedalian

• 2006-12-17 07:31 - Cynewulf - /* Noun */ fmt

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