fustian
noun/adjective
Pompous or pretentious speech or writing; inflated and empty language. Originally, a type of thick, heavy cotton fabric.
Etymology
From Old French "fustaigne," from Medieval Latin "fustaneum," possibly from "Fostat," a suburb of Cairo where the fabric was made.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The politician's speech was pure fustian, full of sound and fury."
- 2.
"Critics dismissed the manifesto as revolutionary fustian."
- 3.
"Behind the fustian, there was little of substance."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
The shift from fabric to bombast occurred because fustian cloth, though impressive-looking, was cheaper than the silks it imitated. "Fustian" speech similarly imitates profundity without substance.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 7 letters (F, U, S, T, I, A, N)
Scrabble Value: 10 points
Tip: Try building from common prefixes or suffixes when you spot these letters.
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