Where does “pompous” come from?
Pompous comes from Middle English pompous, from Old French pompeux, from Late Latin pomposus, from Latin pompa meaning procession, derived from Ancient Greek πομπή, ultimately from the verb πέμπω meaning to send.
pompous (English): Affectedly grand, solemn or self-important
Definitions
- Affectedly grand, solemn or self-important
Ancestry of “pompous”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pompous | — |
| 2 | Old French | pompeux | — |
| 3 | Late Latin | pomposus | — |
| 4 | Latin | pompa | procession, parade; pomp |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πομπή | a sending; a solemn procession; pomp |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -ή | suffix of feminine nouns in the [[Appendix:Ancient Greek first declension |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | -ᾱ | nominal suffix |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -éh₂ | — |