Lexic.us

Definition of High-flown

1. Adjective. Pretentious (especially with regard to language or ideals). "A high-sounding dissertation on the means to attain social revolution"

2. Adjective. Of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style. "A grand purpose"

Definition of High-flown

1. Adjective. pretentiously eloquent; highly figurative ¹

2. Adjective. lofty, extravagant, refined ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of High-flown

high-definition television high-definition televisions high-density lipoprotein high-density lipoproteins high-end high-energy high-energy physics high-energy shock waves high-fat diet high-fibre diet

high-fidelity high-five high-flier high-flown (current term) high-flyer high-frequency high-frequency gravitational wave high-frequency gravitational waves high-frequency jet ventilation high-frequency ventilation

high-fructose corn syrup high-fructose corn syrups high-fructose maize syrup high-go high-grade high-handed high-handedly high-hanging fruit

Literary usage of High-flown

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Dictionary of National Biography by LESLIE. STEPHEN (1889)
"Fawcett's sermons are high-flown, but not «lev IR! of matter ; they are written for effect, AHI! may be read with interest, notwithstanding their ..."

2. The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors by Charles Wells Moulton (1904)
"His acter, his dress designed to attract atten- language is that of an unliterary beginner, tion, and his opinions cut after the pattern either high-flown ..."

3. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"... the high-flown language that we meet witli in Sidney's Arcadia. The Mundus Alter el Idem of Hall (afterwards bishop of Norwich) is a satirical romance, ..."

4. Crabb's English Synonyms by George Crabb (1917)
"high-flown is a compound of the English high and flown; high, ... high-flown, in most common usage, is applied to the various terms of language as employed ..."

5. The Verbalist: A Manual Devoted to Brief Discussions of the Right and Wrong by Alfred Ayres (1882)
"... then—when shorn of its redundancy and high-flown emptiness—it will read some- what like this : " The laws thus far presented justify the general ..."

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