April 21 is Big Word Day

Posted on by equipsblog

Felicitations on Sesquipedalian Day.

Use the adjective sesquipedalian to describe a word that’s very long and multisyllabic. For example the word sesquipedalian is in fact sesquipedalian.

If you know some big words,
today's the day to use them.
 Please say words you really know
try not to abuse them.
If someone doesn't know a word
it's not nice to accuse them.

Published by equipsblog

Writer and oenophile in training

28 thoughts on “April 21 is Big Word Day”

  1. Thank you, Pat, for your wonderfully erudite post! I love your mention of Dr Samuel Johnson work, and the Oxford work was helped by many people writing with their eloquent suggestions. The editor was surprised and delighted by one writer in particular, and asked to meet him. He was given the grand address, and assumed that he was going to meet highly educated lord of the manor.
    When he rang the bell of the imposing large building in the countryside, he was met by the man in a white coat, who invited him to his office and told him that the man who contributed so fully to the creation of the new dictionary, was in fact an inmates in the mental hospital after comiting a murder

    Liked by 2 people

    1. That is sad, Luisa. Italian is a beautiful language. At least in English, our four letter words seemed to be replacing our longer words in many places. F**K has so many more uses than it originally did.

      Liked by 2 people

        1. One of the less obvious advantages of a large vocabulary is cussing without four lettered words. You illegitimate scion of two unsavory parents were present when those people had their nuptial celebration.

          Liked by 1 person

  4. Thanks, Joanna for this delightful and delicious look behind the curtain. I figured it might be a tradesman or laborer, not inmates from a mental hospital. Really enhanced Big Word Day!

    Like

  8. Hmmmm….what an interesting day of celebration Pat…”Big Word Day?” 😲 I think I am a little sesquipedalia-deficient today! 😂😝🤣 But my dear, have a FANtabulous evening and week ahead girlfriend. Hugs and smooches…or should I say, cuddlicious and kissalicious week! 🤗💖😘

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Your line, “Please say words you really know” made me chuckle – I had a student a few years back who wrote like he used a thesaurus for every third word. I offered what I hope was helpful teacher advice. 👩🏻‍🏫 I subscribe to Word of the Day through Dictionary.com and although I enjoy reading and learning if the word is new, I rarely use them so happy to do so now: The national debt is brobdingnagian!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I think many big words are being shortened these days thanks to text and E-mail. I keep getting reminded that I must be an old person, because I still use full words and punctuation in texts. Happy Big Word Day Pat. Allan

    Liked by 2 people

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.