Difficult Words!: Words worth using will always tempt a 'Wordsmith'!

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May 31 2021 04:41 PM
P C Thomas

By PC THOMAS: In the English language which are the words that are most frequently used or which is the longest word, or to which words are the most meanings attributed? These and other questions may be tickling the minds of the Studious now and then.

According to the American Heritage Words Frequency Book, the words which are used most frequently in English are – a, and, the, is, of, you, I, that, it, to, he, in, for, she. The word ‘set’ has 58 meanings as a noun, and 126 meanings as a verb.

As for the longest word, a clear answer cannot be given because the word which is deemed longest is not permanently used in language. Some noted writers in their books use some words in the particular context symbolically. Accordingly, the longest word with 100 characters is seen in the book “Finnegan’s Wake”, by James Joycee. When Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, there must have been thunder and lightning. For the creation of the symbolic thunder and lightning, Joyce used the word considered the longest in English:

Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk

The second word, possessing 45 characters, is found in the eighth edition of Webster’s new Collegiate Dictionary: “Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis”. The word denotes the physical and mental effects of inhalation of Silicon.

Another longest word with 27 characters, is found in the play, Love’s Labour Lost by Shakesphere. It is “Honorificabllitudinitulbus”. Shakespeare uses the word for ‘honestly’.

Another word with 29 characters is included in the Oxford English Dictionary. It is supposed to be the third, longest word in English: “Floccinaucinihilipilification.” It means seeing an action or object as good for nothing.

Interestingly or incidentally, as we all know, the word “Floccinaucinihilipilification.” went viral now, handled by Congress MP and renowned Author Shashi Tharoor who is known for his vast English vocabulary. The context here is that when Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader, popularly known as KTR, posted several unpronounceable names of COVID-19 medicine (Posaconazole – Cresemba – Tocilzumab – Remdesivir – Liposomal Amphoterecin – Flavipiravir – Molnupiravir – Baricitinib) in social media, and wrote that he (KTR) suspects Shashi Tharoor is behind the names of these medicines. Responding to KTR’s tweet, Shashi Tharoor tweeted quickly, "Not guilty! How can you indulge in such floccinaucinihilipilification, @KTRTRS? Left to me I'd happily call them "CoroNil", "CoroZero", & even "GoCoroNaGo!" But these pharmacists are more procrustean...."

It is a fact that the above longest words are not normally used either in verbal or in written communication. But, it is very interesting that Dr Shashi Tharoor took a good opportunity to express the word floccinaucinihilipilification in the right sense. Therefore, I would like to place before Shri Tharoor the above three more longest words to make them viral. Perhaps, he may be tempted to use them at an appropriate time. Words worth using will always tempt a 'Wordsmith'!