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Topic: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia  (Read 579 times)

patriciaeclevenger

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hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« on: May 20, 2016, 08:32:42 am »
No, the subject isn't a mistype. It's the word of the day and I thought it was so funny I had to share.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: noun, fear of long words

Why is the word hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia so long if it stands for fear of long words?
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lvstephanie

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Re: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2016, 09:02:12 am »
Hehe... I was actually interested in the etymology of this word, mostly because of how it starts with what looks like hippopotamus, and I was just wondering if hippopot- was some type of root for a very large object. Come to find out that this word is actually a contrivance made to express the size, fear, and example of its meaning. Actually the part "sesquipedalian" itself means a long word (literally, a foot and a half long), so sesquipedaliophobia could have actually served as the word, but to make it even longer and scarier, the Hippopot- and monstros- were added.
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pmagalei

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Re: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2016, 09:41:11 am »
Hahaha. Dang I thought it was a cross between and hippo and and a dinosaur.
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ktheodos

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Re: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2016, 11:24:49 am »
That's funny...and ironic....
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catchow

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Re: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2016, 11:27:58 am »
Wow, now say that three times fast!
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bleyd

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Re: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2016, 01:45:44 pm »
Wow...that's a long word.  I think I have a that LOL! I was trying to sound it out and figure it out but gave up.
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squirrelgirl44

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Re: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2016, 01:54:19 pm »
LOL. I have a fear of long words after reading that. What on earth... ha.
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vickysue

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Re: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2016, 03:17:05 pm »
I think that is one of the longest words i have seen so far. who ever thought that one up must still be laughing at us lay people for not knowing it let alone  being able to say it.
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Nancy5

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Re: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« Reply #8 on: May 20, 2016, 04:13:12 pm »
OK, who can spell it! LOL
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adriarobi

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Re: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2016, 04:19:17 pm »
Way too long for Scrabble!!

Would take all the tiles up!

How is one afraid of long words, anyway?

 :rose:
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