Johnsonese
[ jon-suh-neez, -nees ]
/ ˌdʒɒn səˈniz, -ˈnis /
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noun
a literary style characterized by rhetorically balanced, often pompous phraseology and an excessively Latinate vocabulary: so called from the style of writing practiced by Samuel Johnson.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of Johnsonese
First recorded in 1835–45; (Samuel) Johnson + -ese
Words nearby Johnsonese
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023