Obscure words... calling all walking encyclopedias!

[Wind In My Hair]

need some help here. what is an acrophile?

also, was reading eric's thread on men crying and wanted to use the word 'emote' but my dictionary didn't have such a word, though i could have sworn i've seen it used somewhere before. is it legit?

and since i'm on the topic, what in the world does the supposedly longest word 'supercalifragilisticexpealodocius' (sp?) mean and is it really a word?

[Saint]

Acrophile is"one who lives in the mountains, one who loves mountain"

[Strong Eagle]

Main Entry: acrophile
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: one who lives in the mountains, one who loves mountain
Etymology: Greek acro- `summit, peak'

e·mote ( P ) Pronunciation Key (-mt)
intr.v. e·mot·ed, e·mot·ing, e·motes
To express emotion, especially in an excessive or theatrical manner: “The more she emotes, the less he listens, and the less he listens, the more strident and emotive she becomes”

[Wind In My Hair]

thanks, saint and SE. it's great to have helpful people like you on the forum.

SE, i always knew you were a walking encyclopaedia!

[beenhere10years]

what in the world does the supposedly longest word 'supercalifragilisticexpealodocius' (sp?) mean and is it really a word?

The longest word, in English, according to Wikipedia is:

floccinaucinihilipilification

which means the act of estimating is useless.

supercalifragilisticexpealodocius?

This from www.idMb.com:


The "word" supercalifragilisticexpialidocious seems to predate the movie, but language experts have yet to pin down by how much, or what, exactly, it originally meant. An urban myth is growing that it had something to do with Irish (or Scottish) prostitutes. Its use in the movie may have been inspired by a nonsense word the Sherman Brothers learned at summer camp. They remembered having a word that the adults didn't know, and thought the Banks children should have one too.

[sundaymorningstaple]

what in the world does the supposedly longest word 'supercalifragilisticexpealodocius' (sp?) mean and is it really a word?

The longest word, in English, according to Wikipedia is:

floccinaucinihilipilification

which means the act of estimating is useless.

supercalifragilisticexpealodocius?

This from www.idMb.com:


The "word" supercalifragilisticexpialidocious seems to predate the movie, but language experts have yet to pin down by how much, or what, exactly, it originally meant. An urban myth is growing that it had something to do with Irish (or Scottish) prostitutes. Its use in the movie may have been inspired by a nonsense word the Sherman Brothers learned at summer camp. They remembered having a word that the adults didn't know, and thought the Banks children should have one too.

More absolutely useless information:

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch

This is the name of a town in North Wales. The name translates as "The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave" in Welsh, has long claimed the fame of having the longest name in the world. However, there is a hill in New Zealand called

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu

This Maori mouthful translates into English as "the place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as 'landeater,' played his flute to his loved one." I consider this a lean short-story, however, and have serious reservations about giving New Zealand the gold, especially without photographic evidence. But you may count it if you like.

However, before you make up your mind, consider the favorite of the Guinness Book of Records, the name of Bangkok (Krungthep) in Thai:

Krungthepmahanakonbowornratanakosinmahintarayudyayamahadiloponoparatanarajthaniburiromudomrajniwesmahasatarnamornpimarnavatarsatitsakattiyavisanukamphrasit

sms

[Wind In My Hair]

those are amazing tidbits of knowledge. i knew this was the right place to ask my question and get more than i asked for besides! and i guess it's time for me to get a better dictionary...

[Saint]

This is one of my favourites

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - Is the fear of long words!

[samantha]

hahaha you guys are not just walking encyclopedias but walking dictionaries too!!

I'm happy remaining a walking encyclopedia.. ask me anything to do with history, literature, art, geography and all sorts of facts...

[Saint]

Ah Samantha, just the person as I have a history question, when's my wedding anniversary as i'll be in big trouble if I forget

[sundaymorningstaple]

Ah Samantha, just the person as I have a history question, when's my wedding anniversary as i'll be in big trouble if I forget

I know how that is! My daughter just reminded me last night that this saturday is my anniversary. I'd have forgotten it for sure.

[Saint]

Thank god for small mercies, at least she did't remind you on Saturday that last night was your anniversary! That would be messy

[samantha]

lets see.. its definitely somewhere within the next 525600mins...