grandiloquent

From Middle French grandiloquent, from Latin grandiloquus, from grandis (“great, full”) + loquēns, present participle of loquor (“I speak”). Compare eloquent.

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ɡɹænˈdɪl.ə.kwənt/

• Audio (US)

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grandiloquent (comparative more grandiloquent, superlative most grandiloquent)

1. (of a person, their language or writing) Given to using language in a showy way by using an excessive number of difficult words to impress others; bombastic; turgid.
   • 1898, William Graham Sumner, “The Conquest of the United States by Spain”, in War and Other Essays, Yale, published 1911, page 324:

     The American people believe that they have a free country, and we are treated to grandiloquent speeches about our flag and our reputation for freedom and enlightenment.

• (overly wordy or elaborate): See Thesaurus:verbose

Borrowed from Latin grandiloquus, remodelled after éloquent.

• IPA^(key): /ɡʁɑ̃.di.lɔ.kɑ̃/

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grandiloquent (feminine grandiloquente, masculine plural grandiloquents, feminine plural grandiloquentes)

1. grandiloquent

   Synonym: pompeux

• grandiloquence

• “grandiloquent”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.