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orotund

[awr-uh-tuhnd, ohr-]
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adjective

(of the voice or speech) characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness.
(of a style of speaking) pompous or bombastic.

Origin of orotund

1785–95; contraction of Latin phrase ōre rotundō, with round mouth
Related formso·ro·tun·di·ty [awr-uh-tuhn-di-tee, ohr-] /ˌɔr əˈtʌn dɪ ti, ˌoʊr-/, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for orotund

bombastic, clear, loud, pompous, resonant, rich, showy, sonorous, stentorian, resounding

Examples from the Web for orotund

Historical Examples of orotund

  • Hamlet saw that pithy old Polonius was a preposterous and orotund ass.

    Pipefuls

    Christopher Morley

  • Obediently, the fanatic began to mouth Holy Writ in orotund.

  • At once Serrano's orotund Italian voice shot out into the crowd.

    Mountain

    Clement Wood

  • Mrs. Hallam was sitting in orotund silence, but seemed in good humour.

    Visionaries

    James Huneker

  • Pure voice is usually spoken of as being manifested in two qualities, the natural and the orotund.

British Dictionary definitions for orotund

orotund

adjective

(of the voice) resonant; booming
(of speech or writing) bombastic; pompous

Word Origin for orotund

C18: from Latin phrase ore rotundo with rounded mouth
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for orotund
adj.

1792, from Latin ore rotundo "in well-rounded phrases," literally "with round mouth" (see ore rotundo).

The odd thing about the word is that its only currency, at least in its non-technical sense, is among those who should most abhor it, the people of sufficient education to realize its bad formation; it is at once a monstrosity in its form & a pedantry in its use. [Fowler]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper