Floccinaucinihilipilification

 

Times of India editorial on 3 April 2026 says, "Magistrate uses a 29 letter word. And, unwittingly makes the case for simple, stylish English.

The editorial concludes, "Over -long words which only spellers need be familiar with are doing the language a disservice. The essence of communication is to ensure the listener interprets the speaker, exactly how the speaker intends. Anything less is a failure of communication.:

floccinaucinihilipilification

/ˌflɒksɪnɔːsɪˌnɪhɪlɪˌpɪlɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/

Floccinaucinihilipilification is a 29-letter noun meaning 

the act of estimating, regarding, or describing something as worthless or unimportant. It is one of the longest non-technical words in English, often used humorously or to express deep disdain, originating in 18th-century England from four Latin words meaning "of little or no value". 

Origin and History

• Latin Roots:
   The word is a combination of four Latin terms: flocci (a wisp/tuft of wool), nauci (a trifle), nihili (nothing), and pili (a hair).
18th Century: It was coined around the 1730s-1740s by students at Eton College who combined these words, all of which mean "of little or no value," to form a humorous, long word, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. 

Pronunciation

• FLOK-si-naw-si-ni-HIL-i-pil-i-fi-KAY-shuhn (ˌflɒksɪˌnɔːsɪˌnɪhɪlɪˌpɪlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən). 

How to Use in a Sentence

• "His floccinaucinihilipilification of her hard work left the entire team demoralized".
• "Stop the floccinaucinihilipilification of new ideas — innovation starts with open minds".
• "The critic's floccinaucinihilipilification of the painting shocked the art world". 

Notable Uses and Context

• Literature & History: It is frequently cited as a curiosity of the English language.
• Politics: It made recent headlines when a Delhi court dismissed a criminal defamation complaint against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, with the judge using this term to describe the, according to The Times of India, "worthless" nature of the complaint. 

Synonyms

• Belittlement, disparagement, trivialization, dismissal, undervaluing. 

MANOJ AND GIRIJA

 

Manoj and Girija are settled in Australia.  We are good friends. They had visited us a couple of months ago. We keep in touch.

We were much moved, when they had extended an invitation to us to visit Australia and spend a few weeks with them in February 2026. We had accepted the invitation.

Unfortunately our own pre-occupations  prevented us from going ahead.  As we maintained an excellent relationship we wrote to them to explain why we could not make it.

Dear Manoj, 

When you were here on 22.10.2025, you had invited us to visit Australia. You had told us we could do that during February 2026 and you would host us for two weeks happily. You had a look at our passports as well. You found that they were overdue for renewal. If you hadn't pointed it out we would never have taken it up. And you know there would be considerable impediments for the renewal after it has  lapsed.

Any case the visit didn't take off for exterior reasons, we must say. Ardent believers in God, we feel it was God's will. 

We are happy that you had extended us an invitation that none of our own kin would ever even think of.

Grateful to you for that.

However, in the current context, we are finding it extremely difficult to set off on a journey away from Trivandrum as we are heavily loaded with responsibilities that require our presence here itself for at least an year or more.

Any case, we are thankful  for the invitation  you had extended with love and affection.

God bless you for that.

We still remember our days together at Singapore. We cherish that. It brought us closer. You both were magnificent. We just couldn't believe people totally unrelated and unacquainted till then would shower so much of care, love and affection upon us like you did.

Life is like that. It leads you through unchartered territories often. But we, at the end discover, it was love that had taken us forth together.

We wish you all happy days ahead. 

We pray the almighty looks after you all through in the future. We praise God for raising you up like He did.

We'll be happy if our relationship of love and affection remains for ever.

Let me close with an image embedded in my mind. It would never be erased from there.

On the day of our departure from Singapore, you both had to report for your duties leaving us at your residence.

In a week's time we had learned how to move around in Singapore on our own. 

We left your residence in the afternoon, and took a taxi to Changi airport.

As we got down at the airport, we could see Girija waiting there. She had come straight from her office to see us off. Though we met only at Singapore, we had felt as if she had been our affectionate  sister from birth during our stay there.

It was a surprise. We conversed for a few moments. Then it was time for us to report. We bid good bye.

But before we parted I saw her hugging Chechy with love and Chechy responding with equal affection. It lasted for a few minutes. Tears were rolling down from the eyes of both of them unabashedly. It was relentless. 

I could sense the strong bond they had established with each other during our short visit.

We parted.

Grateful to you both for the ceaseless outpouring of love, care and affection

Love

Chettan and Chechy

CONGRATULATIONS HONOURABLE BISHOP CONSECRATED RECENTLY

 

 I wrote to a recently consecrated Bishop
.............................................................................

Respected Bishop,

Ever since your elevation to  Bishop, I wished to congratulate  you.

To me, you were the right choice. In fact I had been praying for that.

As I listened to your inaugural speech, I could see it was revealing at once your simplicity and firmness.

And the song you sang at the conclusion, and your exhortation to the audience to join was the revelation of your ardent faith. 

I know we had never met before.

Your presence at a meeting  held recently was quite invigorating. 

As I saw you walking in, I could sense my perception was exact. 

I have my experience elsewhere. But that has enabled me to judge fast.

I am pretty happy when I see people conducting themselves with dignity and honesty. 

I have an affinity to them. 

You were that.

I pray God guides you in tackling the onerous challenge at the apex of the Church. 

With God you can.

For me, you are the Joshua of today.

When God is with you, you accomplish, even the seemingly impossible.

We keep you in our prayers

Regards

sd/=

IS IT THE CORRECT USAGE

 

I raised a question.

"Three quotes imbibed in me."

 Is it the correct usage?

Here is the reply.

Yes, "three quotes imbibed in me" is a grammatically correct and understandable usage, particularly in a literary or reflective context. 

It means you have absorbed, adopted, or internalized three specific quotes to the point where they are part of your thinking or character. 

Here is a breakdown of the usage:

Imbibe (verb): 

While it literally means to drink, it is commonly used figuratively to mean taking in, absorbing, or assimilating ideas, knowledge, or principles.

Imbibed in me: 

This implies the quotes were taken into your mind/soul.

Alternative phrasing: 

While correct, you could also say:

"I have imbibed three quotes." (Active)

"Three quotes are deeply ingrained in me."

"I have internalized three quotes." 

The usage is perfectly fine for expressing that you have learned and held onto certain words of wisdom.

CHOKKALINGAM EFFECT

 Chokkalingam effect

Mr.Chokkalingam was a Field Conductor in the Aruvikkad Estate of the KDHPCoLtd. Aruvikkad was among the twenty and odd tea estates of the Company in the high ranges. Each estate was managed by a Manager assisted by an Assistant Manager operating from the estate office situated adjacent to the Tea Factory. The Office was headed by a head clerk supported by clerks. The Tea Factory was headed by a Tea Maker supported by factory assistants in the staff cadre. Together they managed the production where the labour force did the manual work. The vast Tea estate was divided into divisions that were managed  by the Field Conductors ably assisted by Field Assistants. Here, the manual work in the tea garden was carried out by the labour force. 

The company had been organising a football tournament every year during the months, January to the beginnig of April at the football ground at Munnar for the Finlay Trophy. The participants were the teams from all the estates of the  KDHP and the Malayalam Plantations in the High Ranges. Matches would begin at 4 or 5 pm on the scheduled dates. Sundays were off days.

For the people of Munnar and the estates, the Winter Season of the  three months were festival months. It was the sole recreation for the people of High Ranges where heavy rains drenched the region for the rest of the year. 

I could see people running on the roads to reach the football ground to watch the hotly contested matches. As the school closed at 4 pm, I used to run 3 miles either way to put my books at home and return at once after gulping down quick whatever Mummy had kept for me at home.

Chokkalingam was a hefty figure. He was handsome. He was sturdy. He possessed a physique that was the envy of everyone else. He was the key player in the Aruvikkad football team

There he stood on the football ground majestically. He was the fullback. His tackles were strong. The attacking forwards of the opposing teams were hesitant to approach him  when he held the ball. He was a wonderful stopper. It was very difficult to bypass him or go past him and strike at the goal.

Chokkalingam knew very well how to relieve the mounting pressure exerted by his opponents in his domain, that was the entire one half of the ground. He knew if the ball remained in his half, his own goal would be in danger. 

He would dispossess the attacker with the ball and get hold of it. Once he did that he would kick the ball high and away, even dispatching it out of the ground. We could observe that there was never any planning in his wild swings. Perhaps he had no basic training in the game. But he was very good in delaying the inevitable.

Aruvikkad had never won the trophy, though they had reached the semi finals a few times. They were always a strong contender.

Chokkalingam effect is an excellent example on how we should not put away challenges aimlessly. It tells us we need to plan comprehensively without divesrsions or deflections. It teaches us brain is more important than brawn in our journey of life. 

BACK FROM BALI

 

                                                            We are back from Bali.

                      The Top and the Shirt must  have cost us 50000 Rupiah each

                                                               

                                                                        

                                                                       

GREENERY

                   Rev. Dr. Santy.S.Paul, KUT Seminary, Kannammoola writes

Greenery in this climate demands lot of patient nurturing, which is very well evident.

                                                         

                                                        

                                                                             

                                      

                                                            And I replied

                                                    Thank you very much.

                                                     All credit goes to Lila.

                                    I take the photos and send them across.

           Hailing from Munnar and later from Thalavady, Kuttanad, my fascination 

                           for the green and the greenery beats everything else