Having or using many syllables. Now esp. of language or style: unnecessarily complex, abstruse. Cf. polysyllabic, adj.

= sesquipedalian, adj.

= polysyllabic, adj.

Of words and expressions (after Horace's sesquipedalia verba ‘words a foot and a half long’, A.P. 97): Of many syllables.

Of a word: consisting of many (usually more than three) syllables. Also, of language, etc.: consisting of or characterized by polysyllables.

A word of more than two syllables. Also attributive or adj. Of more than two syllables.

Consisting of several syllables; polysyllabic.

(of a word) consisting of two or more syllables, polysyllabic; (of a language) containing such words.

= multisyllabic, adj.