sesquipedalianism
/sɛz.kwɪ.pəˈdɛl.i.ən.ɪsm̩/ · noun
Meaning
- A very long word.
- The practice of using long, sometimes obscure, words in speech or writing.
Etymology / origin
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”).
Sources
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