lexiphanic

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lexiphanic^¹

Where it comes from

From Lexiphan(es) + -ic, after a character in the works of Lucian. Coined by the Scottish satirist Archibald Campbell as Lexiphanick, Lexiphanic in 1767.

adjective more lexiphanic · most lexiphanic · Lexiphanic

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."
Similar: magniloquent

noun lexiphanics · Lexiphanic

rare One who uses bombastic or pretentious wording or language. 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 ſho
Similar: lexiphane

Lexiphanic^²

adjective more Lexiphanic · most Lexiphanic

Alternative letter-case form of lexiphanic 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

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MLA

"lexiphanic." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/lexiphanic. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

lexiphanic. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/lexiphanic

Chicago

"lexiphanic." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/lexiphanic.

BibTeX

@misc{lexiphanic_2026,
  title = {lexiphanic},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/lexiphanic},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}