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Word of the Week: Floccinaucinihilipilification

Jacob Rees-Mogg - Floccinaucinihilipilification

An unusual way of describing something worthless

 

“Floccinaucinihilipilification” became the longest word ever used in the House of Commons when Jacob Rees-Mogg used it in a debate on the remuneration of EU staff in 2012. It is of Latin origin and was apparently coined by pupils at Eton after they combined a number of roughly synonymous Latin stems.

 

Jacob Rees-Mogg used the word floccinaucinihilipilification in the House of Commons in 2012

 

Our Word of the Week brings together “flocci” (a wisp), “nauci” (a trifle), “nihili” (nothing), “pili” (a hair) and “fication” (the process of becoming) to define something unimportant or having no value. It could certainly be used to describe the relevance of the Liberal Democrats post the 2015 General Election and equally sums up the importance of Katie Hopkins’ views on any subject. Floccinaucinihilipilification is a truly fabulous word and one all readers should find an occasion to use.

 

 

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