lexiphane

English

Etymology

From Lexiphanes, a character of Lucian of Samosata's. By surface analysis, lexi- (word) +‎ -phane (“appearing”).

Noun

lexiphane (plural lexiphanes)

1. (rare) One who uses words pretentiously.
   • 2003 January 18, Laurelin Vernet, “Re: BIG STEVE'S STARGATE REVIEW: "Sight Unseen" **SPOILERS**”, in alt.tv.stargate-sg1‎ (Usenet):

     At least I'm not lexiphanic; I'm just a lexiphane. :))

   • 2003 August 26, Lalbert1, “Re: Word Usage”, in alt.fan.cecil-adams‎ (Usenet):

     That online essayist probably strives to be a logodaedalist, but he's just a lexiphane.

   • 2005, Howard D. Weinbrot, Aspects of Samuel Johnson, page 166:

     Campbell tells his dedicatee Lord Lyttelton that he "ought not to suffer those Lexiphanes, those Shiners, those Dealers in hard words, and absurd phrases, those fabricators of Triads and Quaternions" (p. xvii).

Related terms

• lexiphanic

Anagrams

• Xenaphile