polysyllabic

[ pol-ee-si-lab-ik ]

/ ˌpɒl i sɪˈlæb ɪk /

consisting of several, especially four or more, syllables, as a word.

characterized by such words, as a language, piece of writing, etc.

Sometimes pol·y·syl·lab·i·cal.

Origin of polysyllabic

1650–60; < Medieval Latin polysyllab(us) of many syllables (< Greek polysýllabos) + -ic. See poly-, syllabic

pol·y·syl·lab·i·cal·ly, adverb hy·per·pol·y·syl·lab·ic, adjective hy·per·pol·y·syl·lab·i·cal·ly, adverb

The use of polysyllabic and unintelligible words is therein recommended, probably as a goad to the patient's imagination.

Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery |Robert Means Lawrence
One of the most obvious defects of this school is excessive attachment to polysyllabic terms.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 2 |Various
The languages differ—the Turanian, like the Oceanic and the American, being inflected and polysyllabic.

Man and His Migrations |R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham
Whilst all the other known languages of America are polysyllabic, that of the Othomis is monosyllabic.

The Human Race |Louis Figuier

Mr. Moseley had arrived with arguments and reasons and platitudes, all expressed in a polysyllabic monotone.

Sandy |Alice Hegan Rice

polysyllabic

/ (ˌpɒlɪsɪˈlæbɪk) /

consisting of more than two syllables

polysyllabically, adverb