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orotund

[awr-uh-tuhnd, ohr-]
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adjective
  1. (of the voice or speech) characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness.
  2. (of a style of speaking) pompous or bombastic.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for orotund

Historical Examples

  • 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

  • With the orotund, as well as with the natural quality, all the voice modes previously described may be conjoined.

British Dictionary definitions for orotund

orotund

adjective
  1. (of the voice) resonant; booming
  2. (of speech or writing) bombastic; pompous
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Word Origin

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]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper