a. [f. L. alti- comb. form of alt-us high + sonant-em sounding, pr. pple. of sonā-re to sound. L. has the analogous altison-us: cf. altitonant-em and altiton-us, both found.] High-sounding, lofty, pompous, loud.
1612. Shelton, Don Quix., I. i. 6 (R.). He should alter likewise his denomination, and get a new one, that were famous and altisonant.
1664. Evelyn, Silva (1776), Pref. Altisonant phrases.
1837. E. Howard, Old Commodore, I. 2. Does he not, I say, arrest it ere it fall, with the altisonant, Zounds!
