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pro·nounce (prə-nouns)
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v. pro·nounced, pro·nounc·ing, pro·nounc·es
v.tr.
1.
a. To use the organs of speech to make heard (a word or speech sound); utter.
b. To say clearly, correctly, or in a given manner: learning to pronounce French; pronounced my name wrong.
2. To represent (a word) in phonetic symbols.
3. To declare officially or formally: pronounced the legislature to be in session; was pronounced dead on arrival.
v.intr.
1. To say words; speak.
2. To declare one's opinion; make a pronouncement: pronouncing on the issues of the day.
[Middle English pronouncen, from Old French prononcier, from Latin prōnūntiāre : prō-, forth; see PRO-1 + nūntiāre, to announce (from nūntius, messenger; see neu- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]
pro·nouncea·ble adj.
pro·nouncer n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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