Where does “altisonant” come from?

altisonant (English) comes from Latin altus, from Proto-Italic altos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eltós, from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- — to grow, nourish.

altisonant (English): High-sounding; lofty or pompous

Definitions

  1. High-sounding; lofty or pompous

Ancestry of “altisonant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinaltushigh, tall; deep; profound
2Proto-Italicaltos—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eltós—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eltós →Every word from Proto-Italic altos →
altisonant — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer