Sesquipedalia or Sesquipedalians: Foot and a Half Long Words, Section One
(obscure verbal usages that challenge your comprehension as to what they mean)
Sesquipedalian Words; Part One, 1-17
Sesquipedalia Verba or Sesquipedalians in Action
Etymologically, from Latin sesquipedalis; literally, a foot and a half long, from sesqui- + ped-, pes, foot. Date of origin in English is believed to be from 1656.
1. Having many syllables, long; as in “sesquipedalian terms”.
2. Given to or characterized by the use of long words; “a sesquipedalian political statement”.
3. Long and ponderous; polysyllabic.
4. Measuring or containing a foot and a half; as, a sesquipedalian pygmy; sometimes humorously applied to long words (as in the “Verba Obscura” shown below).
5. Given to the overuse of long words; as with “sesquipedalian political orators”.
A reference to the use of long words; especially when verbal construction utilizing less amplification might represent a more naturally efficacious phraseology, so as a result, we get verba obscura.
See if you can determine the meanings of the following sesquipedialian “common proverbs” or sayings before you look at the solutions.
- Verba Obscura #1
- Verba Obscura #2
- Verba Obscura #3
- Verba Obscura #4
- Verba Obscura #5
- Verba Obscura #6
- Verba Obscura #7
- Verba Obscura #8
- Verba Obscura #9
- Verba Obscura #10
- Verba Obscura 11
- Verba Obscura #12
- Verba Obscura #13
- Verba Obscura #14
- Verba Obscura #15
- Verba Obscura #16
- Verba Obscura #17
Is shaped by gravitational force,
Can scarce enjoy the consolation
Of bryophytic aggregation.
Who assumes clavinous functions
When once from circumambient pen,
Is snatched its equine denizen.
It doesn’t do much good to lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.
Don’t lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.
Manhole cover (on a street).
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Mr. Sussman wrote: "Are we a nation of dolts?" he inquired angrily. "Must we reduce every thought to a single paragraph of one-syllable words?"
Too many cooks can spoil the broth.
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
The early bird catches the worm.
All that glitters is not gold.
Waste not, want not.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
It’s an ill wind that blows no man good.
Look before you leap.
To err is human, to forgive divine.
A quadruped of equine race
Is simple; but he may not care
To practice imbibition there.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.
Across the circumambient sky,
To graminiferous meads repair—
Your instant task awaits you there!.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Whose movements one can circumscribe
“In manu,” as a pair will rate
Subarboreally situate.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.