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Dec 8, 2010
This week's themeWhat to avoid when using words
This week's words
pleonasm
apophasis
sesquipedality
Sesquipedalian beans
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sesquipedality
PRONUNCIATION:
(ses-kwi-pi-DAL-i-tee) 
MEANING:
noun: The practice of using long words. ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin sesqui- (one and a half) + ped- (foot). First recorded use: 1759. NOTES:
Literally speaking, sesquipedality is using words that are one and a half feet long. A related word is sesquicentennial (150th anniversary). Nothing wrong with using a sesquipedalian word once in a while, if it fits, but it's best to avoid too many long, polysyllabic words. This dictum doesn't apply to German speakers though, as Mark Twain once observed, "Some German words are so long that they have a perspective." There's a bean subspecies commonly known as a yardlong bean. It's really misnamed as it's "only" half a yard long. Its scientific name, Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis, is more precise.
USAGE:
"The stories in Oblivion comprise relatively straightforward prose, with textual play and sesquipedality trimmed to the bone."Tim Feeney; Oblivion; Review of Contemporary Fiction; Jul 2004.
Explore "sesquipedality" in the Visual Thesaurus.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
In a free country there is much clamor, with little suffering: in a despotic state there is little complaint but much suffering. -Lazare Hippolyte Carnot, statesman (1801-1888) | The Icicle Story iPhone app A wonderful tale of friendship, discovery and the journey of life | Orijinz is a perfect holiday gift! "I've been playing the word game Orijinz ..lot of fun" -Jim Horne, NY Times | What is Scrabble missing? Tens of thousands of words all playable in WildWords. See how. |
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