mellifluous

mellifluous
/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 mellifluus, equiv. to L melli- (s. of mel) honey + -flu(ere) to flow + -us adj. suffix (see -OUS)]
Syn. 1. melodious, musical, dulcet, harmonious.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • 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.) 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 …   Etymology 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 — 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

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