rotund
UK[rəʊˈtʌnd]US[roʊˈtʌnd]
adj
(of a person) round and plump.
adj
(of speech or writing) sonorous and grand.
Morpheme Breakdown
rotund
rotund
unsegmentable
Etymology
the word 'rotund' entered english in the 15th century, borrowed directly from the latin adjective 'rotundus', meaning "round, circular, spherical." this latin term is itself derived from the verb 'rota', meaning "wheel." the semantic connection is direct and visual: the shape of a wheel is the archetype of roundness. over time, the meaning extended metaphorically from physical roundness to describe a full, rounded physique, and further to describe speech or writing that is full, rich, and sonorous in quality, completing a circle of meaning from the concrete to the abstract.
Analysis
Structure: rotund (unsegmentable)
the entire word 'rotund' functions as a single, unsegmentable morpheme in modern english. it is a loanword from latin.
Examples
the rotund gentleman was a cheerful and familiar figure in the village.
he delivered his speech in a wonderfully rotund and commanding voice.
the architect favored rotund towers and domed roofs in his designs.