# mellifluous
## English
### Etymology

From Latin mellifluus (“flowing like honey”), from mel (“honey”) + fluō (“flow”). Compare superfluous and fluid, from same root, and with dulcet (“sweet speech”), alternative Latinate term with a similar meaning.

### Pronunciation

* Audio (US):(file)
* (US) IPA: /məˈlɪflu.əs/, /mɛˈlɪflu.əs/

### Adjective

mellifluous (comparative more mellifluous, superlative most mellifluous)
* Flowing like honey.
** 1671, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:Though in heaven the trees / Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines / Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn / VVe brush mellifluous devvs, and find the ground / Cover'd vvith pearly grain […]
* (figurative) Sweet, smooth and musical; pleasant to hear (generally used of a person's voice, tone or writing style).
    Synonyms: birdsweet, dulcet, euphonious, mellifluent
** 1671, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:[…] Socrates […] VVisest of men; from vvhose mouth issued forth / Mellifluous streams that vvater'd all the schools / Of Academicks old and nevv […]
** 1728, [James] Thomson, Spring. A Poem, […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], and G[eorge] Strahan, […], →OCLC, pages 30–31:Join'd to Theſe [birds], / Thouſands beſide, thick as the covering Leaves / VVhich ſpeck them o'er, their Modulations mix / Mellifluous.
** 1853, Sir Egerton Brydges, Life of Milton:No verses can be more mellifluous than Petrarch's: something of this will perhaps be attributed to the softness of the Italian language; but the English tongue is also capable of it, however obstinately Johnson may have pronounced otherwise.
** 2016 May 19, Rachel Aroesti, “Richard Ashcroft: These People review”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC:Certainly, he [Richard Ashcroft] returns explicitly to the sound of Urban Hymns on his fourth solo album: neat, sad strings, unhurried percussion and his mellifluous foghorn of a voice.(Can we archive this URL?)
** 2017 October 20, Ben Beaumont-Thomas, “In dreams: Roy Orbison hologram to embark on UK tour in 2018”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC:His [Roy Orbison's] iconic look, mellifluous croon and timeless songwriting means that he retains a strong fanbase.(Can we archive this URL?)
** 2022 July 12, Simon Montlake, “In Jan. 6 spotlight, Mike Pence navigates a tricky post-Trump path”, in The Christian Science Monitor‎:Radio proved a perfect fit for the mellifluous tones of Mr. Pence, who called himself “Rush Limbaugh on decaf.”

#### Usage notes

Not to be confused with melliferous (“of a plant or its parts: bearing any substance (such as nectar or pollen) which is collected by bees to produce honey; (by extension) producing honey; (figurative) honeyed, sweet”).

#### Derived terms

* mellifluousness

#### Related terms

* melliloquent
* superfluous

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.