prəˈnau̇n(t)s verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English pronuncen, pronouncen, from Middle French prononcier, from Latin pronuntiare to proclaim, articulate, from pro- forth + nuntiare to report, relate, from nuntius messenger — more at pro-
transitive verb
1. : to utter officially or ceremoniously
pronounce a eulogy
pronounce a death sentence
: declare solemnly
I now pronounce you man and wife
have been officially pronounced to be exemplars of the Christian faith — K.S.Latourette
the weightiest judgment which he could pronounce — H.E.Scudder
2. : to declare authoritatively or by way of a judgment, opinion, or conclusion
doctors pronounced him fit to resume his duties
pronounced the meeting adjourned
3.
a. : to employ the organs of speech to produce (as a variety or a component of spoken language) or to produce the spoken counterpart of (as an orthographic representation of a word, syllable, speech sound, phrase)
to pronounce German well
chimpanzee is pronounced in several ways
b. : to represent in printed or written characters the spoken counterpart of (an orthographic representation)
both dictionaries pronounce clique the same
4. : to deliver (a speech) with regard to sound or manner of utterance : recite
speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you — Shakespeare
intransitive verb
1. : to declare one's opinion or conclusion definitely or authoritatively : pass judgment
the speaker was twice required to pronounce on the subject of free speech — Guy Eden
liberal platforms regularly pronounce in favor of … antitrust enforcement — Carl Kaysen
2. : to produce the components of spoken language
to pronounce faultlessly
why radio announcers … are continually under attack for the way they pronounce — David Abercrombie