mellifluous me-ˈli-flə-wəs , mə- adjective
: pleasing to the ear
_________
The word mellifluous has appeared in 21 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Nov. 16 in “The Met Reinvents Itself, Yet the Ushers Remain the Same” by Ted Alcorn:
In early to work a daytime dress rehearsal last month, Tshombe Selby walked briskly down a backstage hallway to the staff cafeteria for a quick bite. A North Carolina native, the 34-year-old has been an usher for five years, and on this day he had already turned on the charm. He navigated nimbly past other distinct tribes of opera staff — stagehands in their rugged work clothes, chorus members in period costume, square-jawed security guards — with smiles for all.
When he speaks, he tilts his head back and looks down regally, his huge frame stuffed snugly into his tuxedo. Though his voice is mellifluous and his movements gentle, it’s no surprise he has worked as a bouncer. “My aunt has a saying,” he said with a grin. “Don’t let the smooth taste fool you.”
_________
