Do you know SESQUIPEDALIAN words?
They’re words that are a “foot and a half long.”
But you must be careful when you say them
Or they’re likely to come out totally wrong.
 
Many long words are very manageable,
Like PARSIMONIOUS or PUSILLANIMOUS.
And you probably won’t trip over words
Like XENOPHOBIA or MAGNANIMOUS.
 
But there are words that are even longer—
Word that you’ll seldom find in use.
(Don’t use the words as a pick-up line, guys,
Or the ladies will think you have a ***** loose!)
 
To categorize something as worthless,
A certain word can cause a sensation:
Try, for example, the slick word FLOC-
CINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION.°
 
Another word you could use is HIPPO-
POTOMONSTROSESQUIPEDALIAN.°°
It also pertains to very long words;
But if you use it, you’ll sound like an alien.
 
Wow! These words are rather long;
But longer words do exist.
I found the following German word,
And when I saw it, I couldn’t resist:
 
GRUNDSTÜCKSVERKEHRSGENEHMIGUNGS-
ZUSTÄNDIGKEITSÜBERTRAG­UNGSVERORDNUNG
 
Now THAT’s a long word if I’ve ever seen one!
I know people who’d have a hard time with it.
It’s SO long that I’d find it a challenge
To encounter a word that I could rhyme with it.
 
So SESQUIPEDALIAN words might be handy
To help you win “Jeopardy” or some other game.
But if you’re not careful to use them wisely,
Instead of praise, they might bring you shame.

 
°(FLAHK-si-NAW-si-NY-hil-i-PIL-i-fi-KAY-shun)
°°(HIP-uh-PAH-to­h-MAHN-stroh-SES-kwi-pi-DAY-lee-un)

- Bob B