lexiphanic

comparative more lexiphanic · superlative most lexiphanic · alternative Lexiphanic

1. Using bombastic or pretentious wording or language.

   Dr. Johnson has given an explanation of this passage, which is an amusing specimen of his Lexiphanic style: "to feel the convulsions of eructation without plenitude."

   1852, Charles Knight, editor, The Comedies, Histories, Tragedies, and Poems of William Shakspere: Tragedies, vol. 2., page 128

   Synonyms: magniloquent

plural lexiphanics · alternative Lexiphanic

1. rareOne who uses bombastic or pretentious wording or language.

   Kudos to you. Needed someone like you calling out the phoney lexiphanics.

   2019 April 3, @VedangChauhan, Twitter (post)

   3 more examples

   The printer who undertook the work deſerves much credit, inasmuch as he had before him the numerous remnants of periodical magazines, which have lived to die a ſpeedy death, & which are ſufficient to terrify any one actuated by the motives of certain intereſt, and an inſured return. Every father ſhould introduce this work into his parlour. He will find ſound religion, and uſeful information upon all ſubjects, conveyed in chaſte language, and in a ſtile free from the bombaſt of the Lexiphanic, or the puerility of the hireling.

   1801 October 12, “The Monthly Review. [From the Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser.]”, in The Independent Chronicle: and Universal Advertiser, volume XXXIII, number 2143, Boston, Mass.: Adams & Rhoades, →OCLC, page [4], column 1

   So what can you possibly say about someone who has actually compiled a dictionary of long and unusual words? […] “But Mrs. Byrne,” I said, “don’t you feel your dictionary might just metagrobolise (mystify) the average man and, worse, turn the harageous rodomontades (bold braggarts) among us into linguacious lexiphanics (talkative snobs)?”

   1979 November 22, Stephen Downes, “Secrets of a chronic logolept”, in The Age, 126th year, Melbourne, Vic., →OCLC, page 11, column 4

   Lexiphanics, especially those who write for a living, usually have to hide their penchant for words from slashing editors, to whom such tendencies are anathema. Lexiphanics are people given to the use of pretentious terminology—and they are among those who will enjoy this little book of words [The Superior Person’s Little Book of Words].

   1983 April 9, Carol Goodwin, “Sesquipedalian nimiety is fustian”, in Kitchener-Waterloo Record, city edition, 106th year, Kitchener, Ont., →ISSN, →OCLC, page D6, column 5

   Synonyms: lexiphane

comparative more Lexiphanic · superlative most Lexiphanic

1. Alternative letter-case form of lexiphanic.

   After all the Lexiphanic ridicule that has been attempted on Dr. [Samuel] Johnſon by others, the mockery in the concluding period of the Laureat [Whitehead]’s Life ſeems an inſtance of buffoonery unworthy of Mr. Maſon.

   1788 March, “Poems by William Whitehead, Esq; […] Vol. III. To Which Are Prefixed, Memoirs of His Life and Writings, by W[illiam] Mason, […]”, in The Monthly Review; or, Literary Journal: […], volume LXXVIII, London: […] R[alph] Griffiths: and sold by T[homas] Becket, […], →OCLC, page 179

   5 more examples

   I immediately perceived, and was very forceably ſtruck with the ſtrong reſemblance there ſubſiſts between Mr. [Samuel] J[ohnso]n’s character, and that of the Limouſin ſcholar in [François] Rabelais, and of Lexiphanes in Lucian. And I concluded, that an imitation of the latter would be admirably well ſuited to expoſe that falſe taſte and ridiculous manner of writing; and that it might alſo be of eminent uſe to letters, by decrying that abſurd Lexiphanick ſtile, which from the great and univerſal reputation this Pedant enjoyed, I reaſonably imagined had became faſhionable among us, and might, in a ſhort time, bring on an entire decline and corruption, nay, a total alteration of our language, as had been the caſe with the Roman tongue under the Emperors. Therefore, as ſoon as I had an opportunity, I ſet about the following work with all the diligence and application I was maſter of. In the courſe of it, beſides Mr. J⁠-⁠-⁠-⁠-⁠n’s, I carefully peruſed, it may ſafely be ſaid, for the firſt time, what other modern writings came in my way; and I generally found them more or leſs Lexiphanick in proportion to the ſhare of fame and reputation their ſeveral authors enjoyed.

   1767, [Archibald Campbell], “To the Right Honourable George, Lord Lyttleton”, in Lexiphanes, a Dialogue. […], London: […] J[ohn] Knox […], →OCLC, pages vi–vii

   It is to be obſerved, that in this ſcene Mercury ſometimes ſpeaks a different language from what he uſes in the firſt. In this he often ſpeaks, if I may expreſs myſelf ſo, in the Lexiphanic ſtyle, in order to conform the better to the prevailing taſte of his hearers. See the dialogue, intiteld LEXIPHANES.

   1767, [Archibald Campbell], scene II, in The Sale of Authors, a Dialogue, in Imitation of Lucian’s Sale of Philosophers, London: […] Booksellers in London and Westminster, →OCLC, footnote, page 18

   [I]t has been matter of much ſurpriſe to me, that no one hath hitherto put forth ſome ſimilar treatiſe on the profund in proſaic compoſition; more eſpecially, conſidering the divers appoſite illuſtrations which might eaſily be produced from writers of the paſt and preſent ages. Something of this kind has indeed been attempted and ſucceſsfully executed reſpecting one ſtile of proſaic bathos, that is to ſay, the Lexiphanic, by the deceaſed Doctor Kenrick of vituperative memory. So far as his tractate extendeth, it is ſufficiently well performed, and may preclude the neceſſity of any other to the ſame purport; for which reaſon the Lexiphanic in proſe ſhall be left either unnoticed, or ſlightly and collaterally touched on, in what I ſhall ſay concerning the proſaic diviſion of the profound. […] And herein, as I purpoſely touch not on the Lexiphanic, for reaſons before alledged, I go on to the ſtile more immediately adjoining thereto, that is to ſay, the nebuloſe or obumbratory ſtile.

   1787 January, “Of the Art of Sinking in Prose.”, in The European Magazine, and London Review; […], London: […] J[ohn] Sewell, […] [a]nd J[ohn] Debrett, […], →OCLC, page 20, column 1

   Another gentleman having in a public room trod upon the toes of a gouty old gentleman, who happened to be preſent, is ſaid to have vociferated in the following Lexiphanic ſtrain: “S’death, how devious a veſtige! in what a turbidinous dilemma do I ſtand? may dimneſs to an ulterior approximation of obſcurity perambulate my oplic nerves if I ſaw you before. Without all ambiguity, I ave allaqueated myſelf in a labyrinth of ſuch inextricable mazes, as petrifies the emanations of common intellect. On this intereſting emergency, it is not indeed, ſir, in the compaſs of my elocution to excogitate an apology of adequate efficacy to abrogate your cenſure of my ruſticity.”

   1793 February 16, “From a London Paper”, in The Independent Gazetteer, and Agricultural Repository, number 1432, Philadelphia, Pa.: E. Oswald, →ISSN, →OCLC, page [2], column 3

   The ſpecification was alſo produced, and in the moſt high-flown and Lexiphanic language deſcribed the oven as equally adapted for uſe by ſea or by land, above ground or under ground, on oceans or on rivers, in gulphs or in bays, on mountains or in vallies, in foreſts or in groves, in uplands and lowlands, hills or dales, &c. &c. and ſo on, in a ſtyle of hyperbole exceeding the moſt flowery and metaphorical deſcriptions of any of our moſt florid modern auctioneers.

   1801 July 11, “Court of King’s Bench, July 3. Darby and Nicholls v. Cowdry.”, in Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal, volume LII, number 2727, Bristol: J. Rudhall, →OCLC, page [4], column 4