Prolix

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹəʊ.lɪks/

Definitions

1. Characterized by an excessive and lengthy use of words that often leads to unnecessary complexity and verbosity
2. Referring to a tendency to be overly wordy, often resulting in elaborate and cumbersome explanations that can dilute clarity
3. Using more words than needed, so that speech or writing becomes tedious and hard to follow

Etymology: Latin "prōlixus" originally meant "stretched out" or "extended," describing something that spread far in length or space. The Romans also used it in a more personal sense, to mean "courteous" or "favorable," as in someone who extended kindness or goodwill toward others. Its meaning in English is almost the reverse of that original courtesy: a prolix speaker or writer stretches things out so far that the listener loses patience. The word reached English through Old French "prolixe," which carried the same core idea of length and extension. Over the centuries, the physical image of something drawn out in space gave way to the sense of speech or writing drawn out in time and words. The verb "prolix" was later formed from the adjective, though it is rarely used today.

Synonyms: verbose, long-winded

Antonyms: concise, succinct