Longest Words

Do you remember – when you were a child – learning (then gleefully reciting) what you thought was the longest word in the English language? Was it ANTI­DIS­ESTABLISH­MENT­ARIAN­ISM? Or the similarly long SUPER­CALI­FRAGI­LISTIC­EXPI­ALI­DOCIOUS?
There are longer ones...

However, there is no easy answer that we can give when our visitors ask us for the longest word in the English language. Most very long words only occur in one or two dictionaries, and often they are debatably not words at all. For example, ANTI­DIS­ESTABLISH­MENT­ARIAN­ISM has possibly never really been used to mean "the belief which opposes removing the tie between church and state." Certainly 99 in 100 times it is used as an example of a long word. And who says you can't put NON– (for example) on the beginning to make it even longer?
This problem is even more evident in chemical names. Most chemicals are named using a systematic naming system which methodically describes the molecule's structure. Some molecules, such as proteins, are huge, so it is possible to come up with genuine words containing millions of letters. But of course no chemist uses these really long names in practice.
Here we look at some of the longest words in English dictionaries, and discuss whether they should be considered to be real words. Interesting long chemical terms and place names are listed separately afterwards. The red numbers indicate the length (number of letters) of the word that follows.

Longest Words

(45) PNEUMONO­ULTRA­MICRO­SCOPIC­SILICO­VOLCANO­CONIOSIS (also spelled PNEUMONO­ULTRA­MICRO­SCOPIC­SILICO­VOLCANO­KONIOSIS) = a lung disease caused by breathing in particles of siliceous volcanic dust.This is the longest word in any English dictionary. However, it was coined by Everett Smith, the President of The National Puzzlers' League, in 1935 purely for the purpose of inventing a new "longest word". The Oxford English Dictionary described the word as factitious. Nevertheless it also appears in the Webster's, Random House, and Chambers dictionaries.

(37) HEPATICO­CHOLANGIO­CHOLECYST­ENTERO­STOMIES = a surgical creation of a connection between the gall bladder and a hepatic duct and between the intestine and the gall bladder.This is the longest word in Gould's Medical Dictionary.

(34) SUPER­CALI­FRAGI­LISTIC­EXPI­ALI­DOCIOUS = song title from the Walt Disney movie Mary Poppins.It is in the Oxford English Dictionary.
"But then one day I learned a wordThat saved me achin' nose,The biggest word you ever 'eard,And this is 'ow it goes:Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"

(30) HIPPOPOTO­MONSTRO­SESQUIPED­AL­IAN = pertaining to a very long word.From Mrs. Byrne's Dictionary of Unusual, Obscure and Preposterous Words.

(29) FLOCCI­NAUCINI­HILIPIL­IFICATION = an estimation of something as worthless.This is the longest word in the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. Interestingly the most common letter in English, E, does not appear in this word at all, whilst I occurs a total of nine times. The word dates back to 1741. The 1992 Guinness Book of World Records calls flocci­nauci­nihili­pilification the longest real word in the Oxford English Dictionary, and refers to pneumono­ultra­micro­scopic­silico­volcano­koniosis as the longest made-up one.

(28) ANTI­DIS­ESTABLISH­MENT­ARIAN­ISM = the belief which opposes removing the tie between church and state.Probably the most popular of the "longest words" in recent decades.

(27) HONORI­FICABILI­TUDINI­TATIBUS = honorableness.The word first appeared in English in 1599, and in 1721 was listed by Bailey's Dictionary as the longest word in English. It was used by Shakespeare in Love's Labor's Lost (Costard; Act V, Scene I):
"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 ashonorificabilitudinitatibus: thou art easierswallowed than a flap-dragon."
Shakespeare does not use any other words over 17 letters in length.

(27) ELECTRO­ENCEPHALO­GRAPHICALLYThe longest unhyphenated word in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th Ed.), joint with ethylene­diamine­tetraacetate (see below).

(27) ANTI­TRANSUB­STAN­TIA­TION­ALIST = one who doubts that consecrated bread and wine actually change into the body and blood of Christ.

(21) DIS­PRO­PORTION­ABLE­NESS and (21) IN­COM­PREHEN­SIB­ILITIESThese are described by the 1992 Guinness Book of World Records as the longest words in common usage.
Some say SMILES is the longest word because there is a MILE between the first and last letters!



Chemical Terms
Two chemical terms (3,641 and 1,913 letters long) have appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records. They were withdrawn because they have never been used by chemists, and there is no theoretical limit to the length of possible legitimate chemical terms. A DNA molecule could have a name of over 1,000,000,000 letters if it was written out in full.
(1,185) ACETYL­SERYL­TYROSYL­SERYL­ISO­LEUCYL­THREONYL­SERYL­PROLYL­SERYL­GLUTAMINYL­PHENYL­ALANYL­VALYL­PHENYL­ALANYL­LEUCYL­SERYL­SERYL­VALYL­TRYPTOPHYL­ALANYL­ASPARTYL­PROLYL­ISOLEUCYL­GLUTAMYL­LEUCYL­LEUCYL­ASPARAGINYL­VALYL­CYSTEINYL­THREONYL­SERYL­SERYL­LEUCYL­GLYCYL­ASPARAGINYL­GLUTAMINYL­PHENYL­ALANYL­GLUTAMINYL­THREONYL­GLUTAMINYL­GLUTAMINYL­ALANYL­ARGINYL­THREONYL­THREONYL­GLUTAMINYL­VALYL­GLUTAMINYL­GLUTAMINYL­PHENYL­ALANYL­SERYL­GLUTAMINYL­VALYL­TRYPTOPHYL­LYSYL­PROLYL­PHENYL­ALANYL­PROLYL­GLUTAMINYL­SERYL­THREONYL­VALYL­ARGINYL­PHENYL­ALANYL­PROLYL­GLYCYL­ASPARTYL­VALYL­TYROSYL­LYSYL­VALYL­TYROSYL­ARGINYL­TYROSYL­ASPARAGINYL­ALANYL­VALYL­LEUCYL­ASPARTYL­PROLYL­LEUCYL­ISOLEUCYL­THREONYL­ALANYL­LEUCYL­LEUCYL­GLYCYL­THREONYL­PHENYL­ALANYL­ASPARTYL­THREONYL­ARGINYL­ASPARAGINYL­ARGINYL­ISOLEUCYL­ISOLEUCYL­GLUTAMYL­VALYL­GLUTAMYL­ASPARAGINYL­GLUTAMINYL­GLUTAMINYL­SERYL­PROLYL­THREONYL­THREONYL­ALANYL­GLUTAMYL­THREONYL­LEUCYL­ASPARTYL­ALANYL­THREONYL­ARGINYL­ARGINYL­VALYL­ASPARTYL­ASPARTYL­ALANYL­THREONYL­VALYL­ALANYL­ISOLEUCYL­ARGINYL­SERYL­ALANYL­ASPARAGINYL­ISOLEUCYL­ASPARAGINYL­LEUCYL­VALYL­ASPARAGINYL­GLUTAMYL­LEUCYL­VALYL­ARGINYL­GLYCYL­THREONYL­GLYCYL­LEUCYL­TYROSYL­ASPARAGINYL­GLUTAMINYL­ASPARAGINYL­THREONYL­PHENYL­ALANYL­GLUTAMYL­SERYL­METHIONYL­SERYL­GLYCYL­LEUCYL­VALYL­TRYPTOPHYL­THREONYL­SERYL­ALANYL­PROLYL­ALANYL­SERINE = Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Dahlemense Strain.This word has appeared in the American Chemical Society's Chemical Abstracts and is thus considered by some to be the longest real word.

(39) TETRA­METHYL­DIAMINO­BENZHYDRYL­PHOSPHINOUS = a type of acid.This is the longest chemical term in the Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Ed.). It does not have its own entry but appears under a citation for another word.

(37) FORMALDEHYDE­TETRA­METHYL­AMIDO­FLUORIMUMChemical term in the Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Ed.).

(37) DIMETHYL­AMIDO­PHENYL­DIMETHYL­PYRAZOLONEChemical term in the Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Ed.).

(31) DICHLORO­DIPHENYL­TRICHLORO­ETHANE = a pesticide used to kill lice; abbrv. DDT.It is the longest word in the Macquarie Dictionary and is also in the Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Ed.).

(29) TRINITRO­PHENYL­METHYL­NITRAMINE = a type of explosive.This is the longest chemical term in Webster's Dictionary (3rd Ed.).

(27) ETHYLENE­DIAMINE­TETRA­ACETATEThe longest unhyphenated word in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th Ed.), joint with electroencephalographically (see above).

(26) ETHYLENE­DIAMINE­TETRA­ACETIC = a type of acid; abbrv. EDTA.This word appears in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th Ed.).

Place Names
There are many long place names around the world. Here are a few of the largest.

(85) TAUMATA­WHAKA­TANGI­HANGA­KOAUAU­O­TAMATEA­TURIPUKAKA­PIKI­MAUNGA­HORO­NUKU­POKAI­WHENUA­KITANA­TAHUA hill in New Zealand. This Maori name was in general use, but is now generally abbreviated to Taumata. The name means: the summit of the hill, where Tamatea, who is known as the land eater, slid down, climbed up and swallowed mountains, played on his nose flute to his loved one.

(66) GORSA­FAWDDACH­AIDRAIGODAN­HEDDO­GLEDDOLON­PENRHYN­AREUR­DRAETH­CEREDIGIONA town in Wales. The name means: the Mawddach station and its dragon teeth at the Northern Penrhyn Road on the golden beach of Cardigan bay.

(58) LLAN­FAIR­PWLL­GWYN­GYLL­GOGERY­CHWYRN­DROBWLL­LLANTY­SILIO­GOGO­GOCHA town in North Wales. The name roughly translates as: St. Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool of Llantysilio of the red cave. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

(41) CHAR­GOGAGOG­MAN­CHAR­GOGAGOG­CHAR­BUNA­GUNGAMOGAnother name for Lake Webster in Massachusetts. Probably the longest name in the United States. Alternative spellings are:(44) CHAR­GOGGAGOGG­MAN­CHAUG­GAGOGG­CHAU­BUNA­GUNGAMOGG,(45) CHAR­GOGGAGOGG­MAN­CHAUG­GAGOGG­CHAU­BUNA­GUNGAMAUGG,(44) CHAR­GOGGAGOGG­MAN­CHAUG­GAGOGG­CHA­BUNA­GUNGAMAUGG.

(23) NUNATH­LOOGAGA­MIUT­BINGOIThe Eskimo name for some dunes in Alaska, according to The Book of Names by J. N. Hook

My lost love

It felt like the longest dagger, deep inside my heart,
The only reason that got me going was the feeling of optimisim,
I thought I would never, ever have to fall into this bottomless, cruel feeling,
I cursed the day I met you,
I cursed the day I loved you,
I never knew It was peraps the most ubiquitous element in the universe,
Until I looked beside me and discovered that I had to lose you to find my LOST LOVE.

You!

In my opinion you are the most important fellow on earth.
Fra more important than I am,
For if I am no more, life continues,
even better and more interesting and enterprising for you.
But if you are no more, then there can be no life for me.
All I will have are mansions, wealth, oceans, trees, plants and animals.
That cannot be enough for me; without you.
That is why in my world you are the most important fellow.

Ifada Johnson
Peace

The power of Faith 2

In your quest to achieve all your dreams, it is important for me to remind you of what you need to accomplish in order to get your goals.
The most important factor that will determine your success is POWER.
The formula below is an illustration of the requirement of POWER:
KNOWLEDGE + ACTION + FAITH = POWER.
This is contrary to the long held believe and understanding of:
KNOWLEDGE = POWER.
To attain your set goals, there is a need to effectively combine these three factors to get POWER.
POWER over financial troubles, time, family etc
As a continuation of our FAITH series, it therefore important that we highlight the importance of FAITH in the combination.
FAITH is the most powerful believe power entrusted to man by his creator, so that by man can achieve whatever he set out to achieve.
By the quantity, quality, strenght and intensity of your FAITH will you achieve all your dreams.
Without FAITH, truly you have dreams, but it will fade away like a thick smoke in the sky.
FAITH entails your believe in your creator, and in your ability.
Remember, nobody can believe in you more than you.
Let your faith grow as strong (even stronger) than your dreams and watch your dreams come true.

See you later.
Ifada Johnson
Peace.

The Power of Faith!

I know what the feeling feels like,
to have a dream, a big dream, and then feel lonely because nobody understands your dream.
Here are some words to keep you going:

BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU DREAM ABOUT , FOR YOU WILL GET IT!

DO WHAT YOU FEEL IN YOUR HEART, FOR YOU WILL DAMNED: WHETHER YOU DO WHAT YOU DREAM OF OR YOU DO WHAT IS 'RIGHT'

NEVER FORGET: THERE ARE TWO WAYS IN THIS LIFE THE 'RIGHT' WAY (WHAT EVERYBODY DOES AND EXPECT YOU TO DO) AND YOUR ASSIGNED WAY.

CONQUER FEAR FOR: YOU MASTER FEAR OR FEAR MASTERS YOU.

MAINTAIN A LONG TERM VISION AND PLAN

USE THE POWER OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

REMEMBER: FAILURE IS YOUR REALITY CHECK. YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY AND MATURITY TO HANDLE FAILURE.

REMEMBER: GIANTS OFTEN TRIP AND FALL BUT WORMS DON'T BECAUSE ALL THEY DO IS DIG AND CRAWL.

THROW OUR HEART OVER THE BAR AND YOUR BODY WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW.

LEARN TO THINK WITH YOUR EMOTIONS, DON'T THINK WITH YOUR EMOTIONS.

YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU WANT IF YOU BELIEVE; BELIEVE IN GOD AND IN YOUR ABILITY.

ABOVE ALL: ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH WILL YOU RECEIVE IT. THIS IS THE

ULTIMATE RULE OF SUCCESS, NEVER ALLOW ANYBODY EXCEPT GOD TO BELIEVE IN

YOU MORE THAN YOU.
I hope these words will help you croos your next hurdles before we meet again.
Bye for now.

IFADA IGHO JOHNSON
Peace.

The Power of Faith!

I know what the feeling feels like,
to have a dream, a big dream, and then feel lonely because nobody understands your dream.
Here are some words to keep you going:

BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU DREAM ABOUT , FOR YOU WILL GET IT!

DO WHAT YOU FEEL IN YOUR HEART, FOR YOU WILL DAMNED: WHETHER YOU DO WHAT YOU DREAM OF OR YOU DO WHAT IS 'RIGHT'

NEVER FORGET: THERE ARE TWO WAYS IN THIS LIFE THE 'RIGHT' WAY (WHAT EVERYBODY DOES AND EXPECT YOU TO DO) AND YOUR ASSIGNED WAY.

CONQUER FEAR FOR: YOU MASTER FEAR OR FEAR MASTERS YOU.
MAINTAIN A LONG TERM VISION AND PLAN
USE THE POWER OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
REMEMBER: FAILURE IS YOUR REALITY CHECK. YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY AND MATURITY TO HANDLE FAILURE.
REMEMBER: GIANTS OFTEN TRIP AND FALL BUT WORMS DON'T BECAUSE ALL THEY DO IS DIG AND CRAWL.
THROW OUR HEART OVER THE BAR AND YOUR BODY WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW.
LEARN TO THINK WITH YOUR EMOTIONS, DON'T THINK WITH YOUR EMOTIONS.
YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU WANT IF YOU BELIEVE; BELIEVE IN GOD AND IN YOUR ABILITY.
ABOVE ALL: ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH WILL YOU RECEIVE IT. THIS IS THE ULTIMATE RULE OF SUCCESS, NEVER ALLOW ANYBODY EXCEPT GOD TO BELIEVE IN YOU MORE THAN YOU.
I hope these words will help you croos your next hurdles before we meet again.
Bye for now.
IFADA IGHO JOHNSON
Peace.

DREAMS

It means different things to us all.
Its interpretation is as diverse as we all are.
Learn to appreciate your opinion about it.
No matter how hard you try you only get to appreciate it when you know what others think about it.
I was opportuned to meet two married uneducated young men from the Northern region of Nigeria,
Sanni, a Muslim from Kano and Moses, a Christian from Maiduguri,
Sanni has just one goal he dreams of achieving in life: marrying three (3) wives to the one (1) he presently has and bearing thirty seven (37) children to the three (3) he presently has. All these without any plan to have a house of his own (he intends to achieve these dreams in his father's house), while also insisting that none of his children will attend a university.
Moses, on the other hand, dreams of bearing four (4) children with the one wife he insist will be his only wife. He strongly believes all his children must attend a university so as to become a better person.
I leave you to choose which one you consider to be the better of both dreams.
The lesson here is that life comes to us in different ways and forms; we decide what we make out of it.
Like a popular saying goes; "when life gives you a lemon, you make a lemonade out of it"
For both of the above examples, their dreams are the best that they can ever aspire for.
Choose your dreams with care and a strong motivation to achieve them.
Remember, "Everything in life is possible, the only impossible thing is Nothing"