Pronunciation: pr ə - ' nau ̇ n(t)s
Function: verb
Inflected Form: pro · nounced ; pro · nounc · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French pronuncier, from Latin pronuntiare, from pro- forth + nuntiare to report, from nuntius messenger ― more at PRO-
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 : to declare officially or ceremoniously <the minister pronounced them husband and wife>
2 : to declare authoritatively or as an opinion <doctors pronounced him fit to resume duties>
3 a : to employ the organs of speech to produce < pronounce these words> especially : to say correctly <I can't pronounce his name> b : to represent in printed characters the spoken counterpart of (an orthographic representation) <both dictionaries pronounce clique the same>
4 : RECITE <speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you ― Shakespeare>
intransitive verb
1 : to pass judgment
2 : to produce the components of spoken language
– pro · nounce · abil · i · ty \ - ˌ nau ̇ n(t)-s ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– pro · nounce · able \ - ' nau ̇ n(t)-s ə -b ə l \ adjective
– pro · nounc · er noun