Floccinaucinihilipilification

Floccinaucinihilipilification by Uncommon Parlance

Floccinaucinihilipilification is the act of estimating something as worthless or without value. It has the distinction of being the longest non-technical word in the English language. If you’re interested, the longest overall word is this one.

You have to be a certain type of person to use floccinaucinihilipilification; capable of spitting out multiple syllables, English and upper class. The very embodiment of the floccinaucinihilipilification user is Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for North East Somerset. And Look – He did use it. Capital!

Etymology: Apparently the term was coined by pupils at Eton from a line in the Eton Latin Grammar that listed verbs that govern a genitive noun: Flocci, from floccus, a wisp or piece of wool + nauci, from naucum, (a trifle) + nihili, from the Latin pronoun, nihil (nothing) + pili, from pilus, (a hair, or something insignificant) + fication.

“Stamps filled the air like snow; Tarquin wept as the boys engaged in the floccinaucinihilipilification of his beloved philately.”

Comments are closed.