Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the word floccinaucinihilipilificating come from?
Meaning: The dismissal, undervaluation, or belittlement of something, treating it as insignificant.
Origin: Coined in the 18th century, it stems from combining four Latin words (flocci, nauci, nihili, pili) that all mean “at little or no value”.
Usage: It is frequently cited as one of the longest non-technical words in the English language.
Example: “I was outraged by the pawn shop owner’s floccinaucinihilipilification of my prized toothpick collection”.
Where did the word posh come from?
Posh perhaps comes from the first letters of the phrase “port out, starboard home,” because on luxury steamships travelling between England and India, the most expensive cabins were on the shady (and therefore cooler) side of the ship—the port side when heading out and the starboard side when returning home.
However this might be a myth, as are many things we hold as true these days!