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How is the word `wind' in the expression `long winded' pronounced?

(L. Janani, Hyderabad)

The `i' in `winded' is like the `i' in `kid', `did' and `bid', and the stress is on the first syllable. The word is pronounced like the noun `wind', the strong breeze that sometimes blows before the evening rain. When you say that someone's speech was `long winded', what you mean is that the person wasted a lot of time getting to the point. The speaker used too many words, and as a result the speech turned out to be tediously long. The expression `long winded' can also be used to talk about things that have been written.

*The CEO gave a long-winded speech about the importance of family.

S. UPENDRAN

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