Main Entry: pro·nounce

Pronunciation: \prə-ˈnau̇n(t)s\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): pro·nounced; pro·nounc·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French pronuncier, from Latin pronuntiare, from pro- forth + nuntiare to report, from nuntius messenger — more at pro-

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to declare officially or ceremoniously <the minister pronounced them husband and wife>
2 : to declare authoritatively or as an opinion <doctors pronounced him fit to resume duties>
3 a : to employ the organs of speech to produce <pronounce these words>; especially : to say correctly <I can't pronounce his name> b : to represent in printed characters the spoken counterpart of (an orthographic representation) <both dictionaries pronounce clique the same>
4 : recite <speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you — Shakespeare>intransitive verb 1 : to pass judgment
2 : to produce the components of spoken language

— pro·nounce·abil·i·ty \-ˌnau̇n(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— pro·nounce·able \-ˈnau̇n(t)-sə-bəl\ adjective

— pro·nounc·er noun