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Foreign it's the Word of the Day podcast for October 5th. Today's word is sonorous, Spelled S O N O R O u S. Sonorous is an adjective. It's used in formal speech and writing to describe something that has a deep, loud and pleasant sound. Sonorous can also mean producing sound when struck and imposing or impressive in effect or style. Here's the word used in a sentence from the Chicago the sonorous notes of a modern pipe organ were the soundtrack to my tour, enhancing the sense of reverence the cathedral inspires. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, is it sonorous? Don't be thrown off by the subtle tweak in this classic conundrum, which usually ends with does it make a sound? It's still the same question. Sonorous in its oldest sense simply describes things that make a sound when struck. The word's Latin ancestor, sonorus, is related to sonus, meaning sound. By this definition, felled firs, wind blown willows, etc. Are all sonorous. A desktop tapped by a pencil eraser wouldn't normally be described as sonorous. However, the word is usually reserved for things that make a deep, loud, booming or echoing sound. Think timpanis or toppling timber, not tables. Sonorous is also frequently used to describe sounds themselves, as well as voices that are deep, loud and pleasant. And as sonorous sounds often cause one to sit up and take notice. Sonorous can also mean imposing or impressive in effect or style, as when describing particularly affecting speech or prose. With your Word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski. Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending word lookups.
This episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, hosted by Peter Sokolowski, explores the word "sonorous", unpacking its definition, usage, etymology, and nuanced meanings in both everyday and formal contexts.
"The sonorous notes of a modern pipe organ were the soundtrack to my tour, enhancing the sense of reverence the cathedral inspires."
"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, is it sonorous? Don't be thrown off by the subtle tweak in this classic conundrum, which usually ends with 'does it make a sound?'. It's still the same question."
[01:31]
Clarifies that everyday objects ("a desktop tapped by a pencil eraser") are typically not described as "sonorous."
[01:40] "Sonorous in its oldest sense simply describes things that make a sound when struck. The word's Latin ancestor, sonorus, is related to sonus, meaning sound." – Peter Sokolowski
[02:21] "As sonorous sounds often cause one to sit up and take notice, sonorous can also mean imposing or impressive in effect or style, as when describing particularly affecting speech or prose." – Peter Sokolowski
[01:15] "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, is it sonorous?" – Peter Sokolowski
This episode succinctly delves into the layered meanings and usage of "sonorous," complementing definitions with etymological background, context-rich examples, and playful commentary. Host Peter Sokolowski balances scholarly insight with accessible language and memorable phrasing, making "sonorous" resonate both as a word and as a concept.
For more, visit merriam-webster.com for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups.