Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun the state of being able to achieve honors
- noun figuratively a
sesquipedalian word; verbalprolixity
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Contains the longest word in Shakespeare at 27 letters: "honorificabilitudinitatibus" - Act V, Scene 1.
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Contains the longest word in Shakespeare at 27 letters: "honorificabilitudinitatibus" - Act V, Scene 1.
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This explanation of the real meaning to be derived from the long word honorificabilitudinitatibus seems to be so convincing as scarcely to require further proof.
Bacon is Shake-Speare Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence 1875
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He uses the word "honorificabilitudinitatibus," and some of his blunders are very ridiculous, as "ad dunghill, at the fingers 'ends, as they say" (act v. I).
Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook Ebenezer Cobham Brewer 1853
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I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word; for thou art not so long by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon.
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I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word; for thou art not so long by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon.
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Like John o'Gaunt his name is dear to him, as dear as the coat and crest he toadied for, on a bend sable a spear or steeled argent, honorificabilitudinitatibus, dearer than his glory of greatest shakescene in the country.
Ulysses James Joyce 1911
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A few years later, when I came across the 13-syllable "honorificabilitudinitatibus" in Love's Labour Lost, it was another epiphany.
Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph Max Davidson 2011
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V. i.44 (427,6) [_honorificabilitudinitatibus_] This word, whencesoever it comes, is often mentioned as the longest word known.
Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: Comedies Samuel Johnson 1746
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I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word; for thou art not so long by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon.
Love's Labour's Lost 1594
oroboros commented on the word honorificabilitudinitatibus
This, from futilitycloset.com:
The longest word in Shakespeare appears in Act V, Scene 1 of Love’s Labour’s Lost:
O, they have lived long on the alms-basket of words.
I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word;
for thou art not long by the head as
honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier
swallowed than a flap-dragon.
It’s the ablative plural of the Latin honorificabilitudinitas, “the state of being able to achieve honors.” And it can be rearranged to spell hi ludi, F. Baconis nati, tuiti orbi, which means “These plays, F. Bacon’s offspring, are preserved for the world.”
So that settles that.
December 1, 2006
sionnach commented on the word honorificabilitudinitatibus
the longest word consisting entirely of alternating vowels and consonants.
November 5, 2007
bilby commented on the word honorificabilitudinitatibus
O, they have lived long on the alms-basket of words.
I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word;
for thou art not so long by the head as
honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easier
swallowed than a flap-dragon.
- Shakespeare, 'Love’s Labour’s Lost'.
November 8, 2008
jmjarmstrong commented on the word honorificabilitudinitatibus
JM understands that Shakespeare invented the term honorificabilitudinitatibus ... what a terrific word eh!
February 1, 2009
Gedaly commented on the word honorificabilitudinitatibus
The state of being honored.
June 13, 2009
jmjarmstrong commented on the word honorificabilitudinitatibus
JM recommends honours be bestowed upon the word 'Honorificabilitudinitatibus', 27 letters long, and it's the longest English word consisting strictly of alterating consonants and vowels.
October 12, 2009