English Dictionary

SENTENTIOUS

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sententious mean? 

SENTENTIOUS (adjective)
  The adjective SENTENTIOUS has 2 senses:

1. abounding in or given to pompous or aphoristic moralizingplay

2. concise and full of meaningplay

  Familiarity information: SENTENTIOUS used as an adjective is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


SENTENTIOUS (adjective)

 Declension: comparative and superlative 
Comparative: sententiouser  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Superlative: sententiousest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Abounding in or given to pompous or aphoristic moralizing

Context example:

too often the significant episode deteriorates into sententious conversation

Similar:

pretentious (making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Concise and full of meaning

Synonyms:

pithy; sententious

Context example:

the peculiarly sardonic and sententious style in which Don Luis composed his epigrams

Similar:

concise (expressing much in few words)


 Context examples 


Sententious sage! so it is: but I swear by my household gods not to abuse it.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease." (English proverb)

"Can you live with the heart of a rabbit?" (Albanian proverb)

"Avoid what will require an apology." (Arabic proverb)

"One who scorns is one who buys." (Corsican proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact