Antidisestablishmentarianism originated in the context of the nineteenth century Church of England, where "antidisestablishmentarians" were opposed to proposals to remove the Church's status as the state church of England. The movement succeeded in England, but failed in Ireland and Wales, with the Church of Ireland being disestablished in 1871 and the Church of Wales in 1920. Antidisestablishmentarian members of the Free Church of Scotland delayed merger with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in a dispute about the position of the Church of Scotland. The term has largely fallen into disuse, although the issue itself is still current (see Act of Settlement 1701).
The word antidisestablishmentarianism, with 28 letters, is the longest accepted word in the English language. There are other words, however, that are longer. For example: Supercalifragalisticexpialadocious is a nonsense word meaning fantastic. However, since it was taken from Mary Poppins, a fantasy novel for children, it is not as yet considered to be a real "word." The claim that "antidisestablishmentarianism" is the longest word in the English language is actually quite arguable, since antidisestablishmentarianism is used seriously in academic and ecclesiastical writing about the Church of England when the concept arises, which it does occasionally (See e.g. Hastings and "Some notes on the Church of England and Establishment", below). However, since 1992 it has lost this title to floccinaucinihilipilification in the Guinness Book of Records. (see also: Longest word in English)
If the word is taken literally, it could mean 'against the enemies of the establishment, but not necessarily aligned with the establishment'.
Antidisestablishmentarianism might still be the longest word not invented for the specific purpose of being a long word, however. (the word floccinaucinihilipilification may have been invented as a joke, and is an amalgamation of four Latin words). Presumably its creation invoked the irony of its length, and may have to do with the politics and commentary of the time period. Also, some criticise its validity on the basis that it has two prefixes ("anti-" and "dis"-) and three suffixes ("-ment", "-arian" and "-ism"), stating that it is not only possible to create a number of longer meaningful words by adding ever more prefixes, but that "antidisestablishmentarianism" is not a standalone word because of them. For example, theoretically "antiantidisestablishmentarianism" is a valid word, where it refers specifically to antidisestablishmentarians' opponents, rather than merely disestablishmentarians in general.
The word antidisestablishmentarianism, with 28 letters, is the longest accepted word in the English language. There are other words, however, that are longer. For example: Supercalifragalisticexpialadocious is a nonsense word meaning fantastic. However, since it was taken from Mary Poppins, a fantasy novel for children, it is not as yet considered to be a real "word." The claim that "antidisestablishmentarianism" is the longest word in the English language is actually quite arguable, since antidisestablishmentarianism is used seriously in academic and ecclesiastical writing about the Church of England when the concept arises, which it does occasionally (See e.g. Hastings and "Some notes on the Church of England and Establishment", below). However, since 1992 it has lost this title to floccinaucinihilipilification in the Guinness Book of Records. (see also: Longest word in English)
If the word is taken literally, it could mean 'against the enemies of the establishment, but not necessarily aligned with the establishment'.
Antidisestablishmentarianism might still be the longest word not invented for the specific purpose of being a long word, however. (the word floccinaucinihilipilification may have been invented as a joke, and is an amalgamation of four Latin words). Presumably its creation invoked the irony of its length, and may have to do with the politics and commentary of the time period. Also, some criticise its validity on the basis that it has two prefixes ("anti-" and "dis"-) and three suffixes ("-ment", "-arian" and "-ism"), stating that it is not only possible to create a number of longer meaningful words by adding ever more prefixes, but that "antidisestablishmentarianism" is not a standalone word because of them. For example, theoretically "antiantidisestablishmentarianism" is a valid word, where it refers specifically to antidisestablishmentarians' opponents, rather than merely disestablishmentarians in general.
Real-world example
If you take terrorism to be against the establishment, and thus disestablishmentarian, then those who oppose terrorism (but don't necessarily support the target of terrorism) could be said to be displaying antidisestablishmentarionism.
In Popular Fiction
In the Honeymooners episode, The $99,000 Answer, Alice asks Ralph to spell the word. Ralph says he'll spell it if she gives him $16,000 for spelling it. She tells him she'll give him twice the amount if he can say it.
In the Blackadder the Third episode, Dish and Dishonesty, the title character tells Prince George that he shall return 'before you can say antidisestablishmentarianism'. The Prince makes many attempts at saying it, eventually reducing to the level of saying anti-distinctly-minty, by which time Blackadder has returned two days later.
In Aqua Teen Hunger Force The Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas from the Future makes the statement that tacos do not exist in the future, stating, "I think we all know why. Anti taco legislation! Disestablishmentarianism!"
If you take terrorism to be against the establishment, and thus disestablishmentarian, then those who oppose terrorism (but don't necessarily support the target of terrorism) could be said to be displaying antidisestablishmentarionism.
In Popular Fiction
In the Honeymooners episode, The $99,000 Answer, Alice asks Ralph to spell the word. Ralph says he'll spell it if she gives him $16,000 for spelling it. She tells him she'll give him twice the amount if he can say it.
In the Blackadder the Third episode, Dish and Dishonesty, the title character tells Prince George that he shall return 'before you can say antidisestablishmentarianism'. The Prince makes many attempts at saying it, eventually reducing to the level of saying anti-distinctly-minty, by which time Blackadder has returned two days later.
In Aqua Teen Hunger Force The Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas from the Future makes the statement that tacos do not exist in the future, stating, "I think we all know why. Anti taco legislation! Disestablishmentarianism!"
by Josh Schooley (Taken from Wikipedia) September 15, 2008
Get the antidisestablishmentarionism mug.; The phonetic phobia of the palindromic spelling of the ideology of "Antidisestablishmentarianism"
(Not to be confused with having a phobia of the ideological system of Antidisestablishmentarianism)
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(Not to be confused with having a phobia of the ideological system of Antidisestablishmentarianism)
irrational
David is has Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, so he most likely also suffers from the more narrow Antidisestablishmentarianismophobiaibohpomsinairatnemhsilbatsesiditna
by Nagragatzi November 29, 2022
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antidisestablishmentarionism
• Antidisestablishmentarianism
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• antidisestablishmentarianismically
• Antidisestablishmentarianismificationizing
• antidisestablishmentarianismist
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• Antidisestablishmentarianismophobiaibohpomsinairatnemhsilbatsesiditna
• antidisestablishmentarianismrosesquipedaliophobia
• Antidisestablishmentarianism (æntɪ:dɪseˌstablɪʃm(ə)ˈtƐ:rɪənɪz(ə)m)
"Behaving in the manner of a person who is in opposed to the separation of church and state".
It is a construction of the word disestablishment which was the separation of church and state.
It can be constructed further to 'propseudocontraneoantidisestablishmentarianalistically' whcih means "In favour of the false behaviour in the manner of a person belonging to the movement opposed to the new version of the movement opposed to the separation of church and state".
Basically just an example of how complex the english language can be:P
It is a construction of the word disestablishment which was the separation of church and state.
It can be constructed further to 'propseudocontraneoantidisestablishmentarianalistically' whcih means "In favour of the false behaviour in the manner of a person belonging to the movement opposed to the new version of the movement opposed to the separation of church and state".
Basically just an example of how complex the english language can be:P
I behave antidisestablishmentarianistically.
by OuTLaWOwnz October 6, 2004
Get the antidisestablishmentarianistically mug.Another word for Eminem's Dick.
"Now get off my dick, dick’s too short of a word for my dick
Get off my antidisestablishmentarianism you prick!"
Get off my antidisestablishmentarianism you prick!"
by EminemFan040304 June 19, 2010
Get the antidisestablishmentarianism mug.One who is against those who are against those who want to commence a new form of life/religion
Or, in a simpler term,
religious tolerance
Or, in a simpler term,
religious tolerance
the antidisestablishmenterianism's protested the disestablishmenterianism's protest on the establishmenterianism's new religion forming
by Isaac Boates February 20, 2005
Get the antidisestablishmenterianism mug.in a antidistestblishmentarian manner; Being opposed to the belief that there should no longer be an official church a the country. The word is sometimes quoted as the longest word in the English language. There is a town in Wales with a larger number of letters, but it is a place name, not a word.
Let's get one thing straight: while antidisestablishmentarianismistically is a real word, that has been really used with real meaning, it is mainly known for being an extremely long word.
by nick daddario October 15, 2006
Get the antidisestablishmentarianismistically mug.Opposition to the disestablishment of a state religion (i.e., favoring the continued state support of a particular creed), esp.in regard to debates concerning the Church of England in the 19th century.
It is impossible for an American to be an antidisestablishmentarian, since the United States has never has an established religion.
by My dixie wrecked November 25, 2003
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