mellifluous

mellifluous
mellifluous (adj.) early 15c., "sweet, pleasing" (of an odor, a style of speaking or writing, etc.), from L.L. mellifluus "flowing with (or as if with) honey," from L. mel (gen. mellis) "honey" (related to Gk. meli "honey;" see MELISSA (Cf. Melissa)) + -fluus "flowing," from fluere "to flow" (see FLUENT (Cf. fluent)). Related: Melifluously; melifluousness.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mellifluous — Mel*lif lu*ous, a. [L. mellifluus; mel, mellis, honey (akin to Gr. ?, Goth. milip) + fluere to flow. See {Mildew}, {Fluent}, and cf. {Marmalade}.] Flowing as with honey; smooth; flowing sweetly or smoothly; as, a mellifluous voice. {Mel*lif… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mellifluous — [mə lif′lo͞o əs] adj. [L mellifluus < mel (gen. mellis), honey (see MILDEW) + fluere, to flow: see FLUCTUATE] sounding sweet and smooth; honeyed [mellifluous tones] mellifluously adv. mellifluousness n …   English World dictionary

  • mellifluous — index eloquent Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • mellifluous — [adj] smooth and sweet sounding agreeable, dulcet, euphonic, fluid, harmonic, honeyed, mellow, pleasing, resonant, songful, soothing, symphonious, tuned, tuneful; concept 594 …   New thesaurus

  • mellifluous — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ pleasingly smooth and musical to hear. DERIVATIVES mellifluously adverb mellifluousness noun. ORIGIN from Latin mel honey + fluere to flow …   English terms dictionary

  • mellifluous — [[t]mɪlɪ̱fluəs[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n A mellifluous voice or piece of music is smooth and gentle and very pleasant to listen to. [FORMAL] I grew up around people who had wonderful, mellifluous voices... Soon the room is filled with Bates… …   English dictionary

  • mellifluous — mellifluously, adv. mellifluousness, n. /meuh lif looh euhs/, adj. 1. sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet sounding: a mellifluous voice; mellifluous tones. 2. flowing with honey; sweetened with or as if with honey. [1375 1425; late ME < LL… …   Universalium

  • mellifluous — adjective Etymology: Middle English mellyfluous, from Late Latin mellifluus, from Latin mell , mel honey + fluere to flow; akin to Gothic milith honey, Greek melit , meli Date: 15th century 1. having a smooth rich flow < a mellifluous voice > 2.… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mellifluous — adj. Mellifluous is used with these nouns: ↑tone, ↑voice …   Collocations dictionary

  • mellifluous — I (Roget s IV) modif. Syn. resonant, smooth, liquid; see harmonious 1 , melodious , musical 1 . II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) (VOCABULARY WORD) a. [muh LIF loo us] sweet sounding and smooth. The mellifluous tones echoed quietly across the stage.… …   English dictionary for students

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”