Word of the week: Antidisestablishmentarianism

Anne Slagill / News Editor / The USD Vista

Antidisestablishmentarianism is a complex word, known by many but understood by few. “Like Paris Hilton, it’s famous for being famous even if it doesn’t have a real role in the world,” Charles Hodgson said on “Podictionary,” a podcast for word-lovers.

The word has gained popularity thanks to its surprising length and readability. Other hefty words may impress with their great letter-span, but none of these are quite so easy to pronounce. Give floccinaucinihilipilification and honorificabilitudinitatibus a try if you doubt my judgment.

Despite its popularity, the lengthy word of the week proves to be yet another testament to the old adage, “bigger isn’t always better.” It may be robust and awe-inspiring, but it has little practical application today.

The word was coined by William Gladstone, Prime Minister of England in the late 19th century. His ideas opposed those of the “disestablishment” movement, which sought the separation of church and state.

Gladstone’s group, which might have logically called itself the establishment, chose to take on the double negative and call their group the “antidisestablishment” movement, that is, they supported the established system. Gladstone added a few letters to describe the movement itself, thus coining the word, as we know it, antidisestablishmentarianism.

While issues of church and state are still current, the term is no longer in common use. This is probably due to its 12 lengthy syllables. Still, the word enjoys popularity as one of the longest non-technical terms in the English language.

Words that triumph over antidisestablishmentarianism in the length race are often associated with medicine or science. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, for instance, is defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as a lung disease caused by the inhalation of very fine silicate or quartz dust.

I think it safe to assume that the folks who coin over-the-top words like the ones mentioned above are simply being facetious. Nonetheless, we can all laugh and wish our old friend brevity a hasty comeback.