Sonorous

Literarylanguageculture

Etymology

From Latin "sonorus" ("resounding"), from "sonor" ("sound, din"), which traces back to "sonare" ("to sound") and "sonus" ("sound"). English kept the sense of a deep, full, resonant sound that fills a space.

  1. adjective · /suh-NOR-us/

    Deep, full, and rich in sound.

    What it names

    The word for a resonant, resounding fullness of tone — a booming voice, a struck bell, a pipe organ.

    Example

    The actor’s sonorous voice filled the theater without a microphone.

    Related idea

    Resonant stresses sound that echoes and lingers; sonorous stresses a deep, full richness of tone.

See also

CadenceDulcetEuphoniousMellifluousResonantStentorianSusurrusTimbre