1.
If someone’s way of speaking, writing, or behaving is ~, they speak, write, or behave more seriously than necessary because they want to impress other people. (FORMAL)
There was nothing ~ or solemn about him. He was bubbling with humour.
...~ prose.
= pompous
ADJ disapproval
~ly
‘The difference is,’ he said ~ly, ‘you are Anglo-Saxons, we are Latins.’
ADV: usu ADV with v
2.
Something that is ~ is important in indicating or affecting future events. (FORMAL)
In social politics, too, the city’s contribution to 20th century thought and culture was no less ~...
ADJ