pendulous

American  

[pen-juh-luhs, pen-duh-] / ˈpɛn dʒə ləs, ˈpɛn də- /

adjective

1. hanging down loosely.

   pendulous blossoms.

   Synonyms:

   pendent

2. swinging freely; oscillating.

3. vacillating or undecided; wavering.

---

pendulous British  

/ ˈpɛndjʊləs /

adjective

1. hanging downwards, esp so as to swing from side to side

---

Other Word Forms

• pendulously adverb
• pendulousness noun
• semipendulous adjective
• semipendulously adverb
• semipendulousness noun
• unpendulous adjective
• unpendulously adverb
• unpendulousness noun

Etymology

Origin of pendulous

First recorded in 1595–1605, pendulous is from the Latin word pendulus hanging, swinging. See pend, -ulous

Example Sentences

The earlobe fern, with its pendulous, spore-bearing clusters.

From Literature

Waldron was the epitome of style and urbanity in jazz, from his pendulous brown cigarette dangling from his fingers to his signature coifed natural Black hair that grew into a stately white.

From Washington Post

Like the album, her set opened with “Saoko,” a song whose sputtery jazz intro quickly gave way to a pendulous bass line that sounded like a spaceship parallel parking on the roof.

From Washington Post

Despite these challenges, Moritz’s staging — presented as a grand chapel under pendulous lanterns — does indeed crack a window and give “Mass” some much needed fresh air.

From Washington Post

The flower stalks typically reach over 10 feet tall and are adorned with as many as 20 strikingly beautiful, wonderfully fragrant, white, red-throated pendulous trumpet blooms.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• dangling
• hanging
• pendent