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A sesquepedalian list

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

There are a lot of things that the newest generations are getting right.  They have been weaned on computers and coding is in their bloodstream.

While I may not tap my toes to all of the latest hip-hop beats, there have been vast innovations in music since the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane & Bob Marley.

But I recently came across this list of words in the English language that are becoming lost to the generations.

I admit that some of them are already lost to me as well. Absquatulate!?  Never heard of it.  I mean it's not even familiar to me.

Many of these words were normal everyday words in my time, and the times of my parents.  I mean, c'mon... Balderdash, Cahoots, Flabbbergast, Doohicky, Poppycock!?  These were commonplace.  I remember using the word "catastrophic" in front of a girlfriend once (a college graduate, btw) and she looked at me askance and said "Now you're just making up words!". 

We're, slowly but surely losing the English language.  My father-in-law had a favourite word - Sesquepedalian.  I'll let you look it up.

by the way... that word in my graphic at the top? Hippopotomonstrosesquippedsliophopia is a fear of long words.

Comments(11)

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Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Alan,
I not only looked up the definition of sesquepedalian, I also looked up how to pronounce it.

 

Mar 30, 2025 08:58 AM
Alan May

It's one of my favourite words... of course he was one of my favourite people.

Mar 30, 2025 09:49 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much for this interesting list.

Have a great day and an outstanding week.

Mar 30, 2025 09:00 AM
Alan May

my pleasure.

Mar 30, 2025 09:49 AM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX
Inactive/Semi Retired Real Estate Agent

Alan May - Awesome! How cool is that! I'm going to have to play with sesquipedalian loquaciousness words.

Mar 30, 2025 01:35 PM
Alan May

loquaciousness!!  Woo hoo!

Mar 31, 2025 05:41 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Alan - I knew all the words except your favorite   sesquepedalian,   and I most likely will never use it 

Mar 30, 2025 03:47 PM
Alan May

It really doesn't come up on common everyday usage.

Mar 31, 2025 05:41 AM
Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI
HomeSmart Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell

Some words are still used Alan but they become hijacked for some other use from what was originally intended. Jeff

Mar 30, 2025 08:05 PM
Alan May

That does occasionally happen.

Mar 31, 2025 05:42 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Alan - like Carol Williams, I looked up sesquipedalian but stopped before attempting to learn to pronounce it.  Language, words and many sorts of stuff continues to change.  

Mar 31, 2025 02:14 AM
Alan May

It's easy, Michael.  Say it with me.  Seh - Squi - Peh - Day - Lee - Ann.  Now fast: Sesquipedalian.

Mar 31, 2025 05:43 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Alan,

I'm glad that Carol Williams  featured your post in her Saturday Series as I missed it. I looked up sesquipedalian and like Michael Jacobs am having trouble saying it and that's from a gal from Schenectady NY! Thank you for sounding it out but I doubt if I have many occasions to use the word.

Apr 05, 2025 05:06 AM
Alan May

It shouldn't oughta come up frequently.

Apr 05, 2025 07:31 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Alan. Interesting post. Many of the words your parents used were also common in my house. My Dad would look confused if you said "sesquipedalian" and may have thought you were having a stroke. Enjoy your day. 

Apr 05, 2025 06:10 AM
Alan May

or speaking a foreign language

Apr 05, 2025 07:32 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I still use many of these words and am flabbergasted that they are becoming lost. Balderdash!

By the way, I say doohickey a lot.

Apr 05, 2025 06:45 AM
Alan May

Doohickey is a good one.

Apr 05, 2025 07:32 PM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

Hmm never heard of this word - Sesquepedalian - and yes I did look it up.

Reminds me of supercalifragilisticxpalidious. Unsure if I spelled it correctly. 

Apr 05, 2025 08:23 AM
Alan May

I'm not sure you can spell it wrong, since it's a totally fabricated word

Apr 05, 2025 07:33 PM
Charles Ross - eXp Realty (Salina Group) | Broker
Salina Group - Salina, KS
Love To Help People

Alan May, your post is a delightful reminder that language evolves, but charm never goes out of style! 📝 Let's keep those sesquipedalian treasures alive, one doohickey at a time. 😉 #StayMotivated #WordNerdJoy #LanguageLover

Apr 07, 2025 03:18 AM
Alan May

We can always use a little charm

Apr 07, 2025 04:06 AM