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 verb1: 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 verb1: to pass judgment2: 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