pronounce
/prəˈnaʊns
/verb [with object]
1Make the sound of (a word or part of a word) in the correct or a particular way: Gerry pronounced the hero’s name ‘Cahoolin’...
- Her tiny lips moved carefully as she attempted to sound out and then pronounce the difficult words.
- Along with this, the user can also get to hear the way a letter or a word is correctly pronounced.
- The only other solution is for foreigners to pronounce words correctly.
Synonyms
say, enunciate, articulate, utter, express, voice, vocalize, get one's tongue round, sound
rare enounce
2Declare or announce in a formal or solemn way: allow history to pronounce the verdict [with complement]: she was pronounced dead at the scene [with clause]: Asquith pronounced that this was the right course...
- They were examined by a doctor but were pronounced dead at the scene.
- A doctor who pronounced the man dead believes the cause of death was asphyxiation.
- However, the Ukrainian was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor.
Synonyms
announce, proclaim, declare, rule, decree, ordain, adjudicate, lay down, affirm, assert, state, judge
rare asseverate
2.1 [no object] (pronounce on) Pass judgement or make a decision on: the Secretary of State will shortly pronounce on alternative measures...
- Normally appellate judges pronounce on issues of law (for instance, wrong instructions given by the trial judge to the jury).
- The same principle requires us to pronounce on the validity of executive action when it is challenged.
- The absence of an economic aspect to the case at hand, therefore, also precluded the Court from pronouncing on the application of Article 10 of the Convention.
Derivatives
pronounceability
- Initially the proposal was to include all the counties of north Wales in a county to be called Gwynedd, a name acceptable because of its ‘historical associations as well as shortness and pronounceability’.
pronounceable
/ adjective ...- It's a bit of a mouthful, and it doesn't form a pronounceable acronym, but there isn't a professional golfer out there who doesn't appreciate the weight that particular cluster of letters can carry.
- As a matter of priority they were given Bulgarian names, with the proviso that they should be pronounceable by family and friends in Scotland.
- Even made-up brand names need to look like words and need to be pronounceable, so this is particularly accurate.
pronouncer
- In actual fact, most spellers have advance knowledge of every word that head pronouncer Stephanie Stuart-Vanderburg will throw their way.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French pronuncier, from Latin pronuntiare, from pro- 'out, forth' + nuntiare 'announce' (from nuntius 'messenger').
announce from Late Middle English:
The base of announce is Latin nuntius ‘messenger’ (also the base of nuncio (early 16th century) a papal ambassador). From the same root come annunciation (Middle English) ‘act of announcing’; denounce (Middle English) with de- having a negative sense; pronounce (Late Middle English) from pro- ‘out, forth’; renounce (Late Middle English) from re- (expressing reversal); and enunciate (mid 16th century) ‘announce clearly’ from e- (a variant of ex-) ‘out’.