Etymology
Meaning
1. (Adjective) Measuring a foot and a half in length.
2. (Figurative) Very long; wordy; polysyllabic.
Origin
The term sesquipedalian was first used in the 2nd century AD by the Roman satirist Juvenal in his Satires:
"Nec tamen hoc tribuens dederim quoque sena sequuntur / Sesquipedalia verba"
"Nor though I give this, do I give such a sum / As buys long words a foot and a half long." (Translation by G.G. Ramsay)
Juvenal used the term to criticize the use of overly long and pompous language, particularly the use of words that were a foot and a half long (i.e., with 18 syllables). The term has since been used to describe language that is unnecessarily long and convoluted, often with the implication of pretension or pedantry.
Etymology The word antipodes is derived from Greek anti άντί opposite or
Etymology Greek apodos without feet Meaning Without legs or feet Origin The
Etymology Arthr Greek Joint Pod Greek Foot Meaning and Origin Arthropoda the
Etymology French babouche Arabic بابوج bābūj Meaning A slipper like shoe
Etymology The word biped comes from the Latin word bipes which is derived from two L
Etymology Brachiopod Derived from Greek brachion arm and pous foot Meaning a
Etymology of Cap a Pie The phrase cap a pie originated from the Middle French phrase
Etymology The word centipede originates from Latin Centum Meaning hundred Pes M
Etymology The word cephalopod comes from the Greek words kephale head and podos f
Etymology Cheli Greek claw pod Greek foot Meaning A cheliped is a claw bearin
Etymology Chiro Greek hand pod Greek foot Meaning A chiropodist is a healt
Etymology Old French expedier Late Latin expedire Latin ex out pes foot
Etymology Expedition comes from the Latin word expeditio meaning a military campaign
Etymology The word foot derives from the Old English word fot which is of Germanic o
Etymology Foosball is a term used in North America to describe a table game played wi
Etymology The word fetch comes from the Middle English word fetchen which in turn is
Etymology The word fetter comes from the Middle English word fetier which is derive
Etymology The word fetlock is derived from the Old English word fetels meaning fet
Etymology The word gastropod comes from the Greek words gaster γαστήρ meaning
Etymology Greek hexa six pod foot Meaning A hexapod is an animal that has
Etymology Latin impedīre to entangle obstruct hinder Proto Indo European ped f
Etymology Latin impedimentum hindrance obstacle Proto Indo European ped foot
Etymology The word impeach originates from Old French empeechier and dates back to th
Etymology Impeccable derives from the Latin word impeccabilis which is formed from
Etymology The word isopod is derived from two Greek words isos ἴσος meaning
Etymology The word millipede is derived from two Greek words Milli meaning thou
Etymology From Ancient Greek ὀκτώπους oktōpous from ὀκτώ oktō eig
Etymology Greek ornithos ὄρνις bird podos πούς foot Meaning Orn
Etymology The word pajamas originates from the Hindi and Persian word paejama which
Etymology The word pawn originates from the Old French word paon meaning peacock
Etymology The word peccadillo comes from the Latin word peccatum meaning sin or
Etymology From Latin peccans present participle of peccare to sin commit a fault M
Etymology Latin meaning I have sinned Meaning The word peccavi is a confession of
Etymology The word pedal comes from the Latin word pedalis which means of the foot
Etymology The word pedestrian comes from the Latin word pedes meaning foot Mean
Origin and Etymology The word pedicel is derived from the Latin word pediculus which
Etymology The word pedicle comes from the Late Latin word pediculus meaning little
Etymology The word pedicure is derived from the Latin words pedis meaning foot
Etymology The word pedigree is derived from the following roots Latin pes foot
Etymology The word pedometer comes from the Greek words pedos foot and metron me
Etymology The word peduncle is derived from the Latin word pedunculus which means li
Etymology From Late Latin pejoratio from Latin peior worse atio noun suffix
Etymology The origin of the word peon is uncertain but there are several proposed et
Etymology Pessimism derives from the Latin pessimus meaning worst or most evil I
Etymology The word petiole derives from the Latin word petiolus which means little
Etymology The word Piedmont is derived from the Italian phrase piede del monte which
Etymology The word piepowder is derived from two Old French terms pied foot po
Etymology The word pilot is derived from the Old Provençal word pilote which in tu
Etymology The word pinniped is derived from the Latin roots pinna fin and pes fo
Etymology and Origin of Pioneer Etymology ultimately from Old French pionier from t
Etymology The word platypus is derived from the Greek words platys meaning flat
Etymology The word podium comes from the Greek word podion which means little foot
Etymology The word polyp is derived from the Greek word polupous which means many
Etymology Pseudo Greek false resembling Pod Greek foot Meaning A pseudopod is
Etymology Latin quadrupedēs quadrupedis four footed quadru from Latin quatt
Etymology Latin sesquipedālis Origin sesqui 1 5 from semi half pedalis foot
Etymology Greek stapes σταπές meaning stirrup Meaning The stapes is a
Etymology Latin talus ankle pes foot Meaning Clubfoot Origin Talipe
Etymology From Ancient Greek tetra τέτρα meaning four pod πους
Etymology The term Theropoda is derived from the Greek words thero θήρ meani
Etymology The word trapezium comes from the Greek word trapezion which means littl
Etymology The word trapezoid comes from the Greek words trapezium meaning little ta
Etymology of Tripod The word tripod comes from the Ancient Greek tripodēs which
Etymology The word trivet derives from the Old French term trevet which itself likely
Etymology and Meaning Velocipede noun A two wheeled or four wheeled vehicle propelled
Etymology The word sesqui originates from the Latin sesqui meaning one and a half
Etymology The word semi originates from the Latin word semi which means half or
Etymology Latin ubiquitas presence everywhere Late Latin ubiquitous present eve
Etymology The word count originates from the Old French word conte which itself deri
Etymology Meno is derived from the Greek word mēn μην meaning month Paus
Etymology Reprimand comes from the French word réprimander which in turn comes from t
Etymology The word delight comes from the Middle English word delit which in turn de
Etymology The word shenanigan is believed to have originated from the Irish phrase si
Etymology Middle English confessen from Old French confesser from Latin confessus p
Etymology The word blog is a portmanteau of web log The term web log was first coi
Etymology The word watershed is derived from two Middle English words Water From Ol
Etymology The term ballpark originated in the 19th century from the early days of baseb
