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altisonant. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
altisonant, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
altisonant in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
altisonant you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From Latin altus (“high”) + sonans, present participle of sonare (“to sound”).
Adjective
altisonant (comparative more altisonant, superlative most altisonant)
- (archaic) High-sounding; lofty or pompous.
altisonant language
1612, [Miguel de Cervantes], translated by Thomas Shelton, The History of the Valorous and Wittie Knight-errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha. , London: William Stansby, for Ed Blount and W. Barret, →OCLC, page 6:He ſpent foure dayes deuiſing him a name: for (as he reaſoned to himſelfe) it was not fit that ſo famous a Knights horſe, and chiefly being ſo good a beaſt, ſhould want a knowne name; and therefore he endeuoured to giue him ſuch a one, as ſhould both declare what ſometime he had been, before he pertayned to a Knight errant, and alſo what preſently he was: for it ſtood greatly with reaſon, ſeeing his Lord and Maſter changed his eſtate and vocation, that he ſhould alter likewiſe his denomination, and get a new one, that were famous and altiſonant, as becommed the new order and exerciſe which he now profeſſed: […]
Translations
of speech: lofty or pompous
References