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Impressed by Sesquipedalians? 🤔 | From Behind the Pen

Image Credit: sergeitokmakov

Expanding one’s vocabulary is empowering and educational. I discover new words frequently through reading, hearing them in movies or other broadcasts, and looking up words others use in their writing that I am unfamiliar with. English is a language rich in vocabulary, with thousands of words to choose from to express even the most complex of ideas.

But do you know someone who is a Sesquipedalian, someone who overuses big words when they don’t have to? If someone gives a sesquipedalian speech, people often assume it was smart, even if they don’t really know what it was about because they can’t understand the words. I tend to stray away from people who make this part of their typical “allow me to bore you” conversation.

There are only two on this list (3 and 5) that I can actually pronounce without speed bumps! 😲 I ain’t even trying to rattle through the others because I really don’t have a need to do so.

1. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (45 letters)

A lung disease that is caused by the inhalation of very fine silica particles, such as those found in volcanic dust. It is the longest word in any English language dictionary and was originally coined as a joke.

2. Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia (36 letters)

This ironic word is a fear of long words itself. Also known as sesquipedalophobia, this word is a fear of long words.

3. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (34 letters)

Popularized by the 1964 musical movie Mary Poppins, this word describes something that is extraordinarily good.

4. Floccinaucinihilipilification (29 letters)

This word often criticizes something someone else has said or done (the act of estimating something as worthless).

5. Antidisestablishmentarianism (28 letters)

Originally coined in the 18th century during a political debate in England, this word refers to opposition to the disestablishment of the Church of England as the official state church.

So, are such long words an aphrodisiac for your vocabulary list?

Image Credit: neelam279

Source: Impressed by Sesquipedalians? 🤔 | From Behind the Pen