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This ain't no antidisestablishmentarianism: Finding, or trying to create, the longest word in the English language is a tantalizing quest.

An old joke holds smiles is the longest word, since there is a mile between the first and last letter. While not found in any ordinary dictionary, Chemical compounds such as trioxymethylanthraquinonic and aminoheptafluorocyclotetraphosphonitrile have their place in the sun. But it is the middle names of Hawaiian women that are often remarkably long as well as beautifully poetic.

My favorite is that of a girl baptized in Honolulu in 1967, when she was given the middle name of 100 letters: Napaumohalaenaenaamekawehiwehionakuahiwiamenaawawakehoomake hoaalakeeaonaainananiakeaohawaiiikawanaao. Loosely translated, the name means: "The fragrant abundant beautiful blossoms begin to fill the air of the hills and valleys throughout the length and breadth of these glorious Hawaiian Islands at dawn."

Source: The Oxford Guide to Word Games; 1984

Posted by Michael Davey on Monday, September 13, 2004 @ 1:39 PM [ + ]

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