Absonous

/ˈæbsənəs/ adjective

Definition

Harsh or unpleasant in sound; discordant or disagreeable to the ear.

Etymology

From Latin 'absonus,' a variant of the same root as 'absonant' (ab- 'away from' + sonus 'sound'). This is an archaic or poetic variant of the more common 'absonant.'

Kelly Says

Both 'absonant' and 'absonous' are extremely rare—they're basically fossil words from when English writers loved inventing Latin-based terms for sounds. You'd impress any classics professor using one!

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