Word of the Day Archive
Wednesday February 23, 2005

Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Previous Words | Subscribe for Free | Help

mellifluous \muh-LIF-loo-us\ , adjective:
Flowing as with honey; smooth; flowing sweetly or smoothly; as, a mellifluous voice.

The balladeer whose mellifluous voice serenaded two generations of lovers.
-- Margo Jefferson, "Unforgettable", New York Times, December 26, 1999

The tones were high-sounding, mellifluous, as if the speaker was reading from a book of old English verse while holding back any trace of sentiment or emotion.
-- Ken Gormley, Archibald Cox: Conscience of a Nation

I picked up more mellifluous words when a family friend came over to teach me some Chilean music on my guitar.
-- Edward Hower, "No Frogs Allowed", New York Times, January 30, 2000

Mellifluous comes from Latin mellifluus, from mel, (gen. mellis) "honey" + -fluus "flowing," from fluere "to flow."

Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for mellifluous

 

AddThis: