This word appeared in Robert L. Ripley's "The Omnibus Believe It Or
Not," published in 1931. There is speculation that Ripley may have
created the word himself.
The literal translation of the long word is "A deluded human who
practices divination or forecasting by means of phenomena,
interpretation of acts or other manifestations related to the
following animate or inanimate objects and appearances: birds,
oracles, Bible, ghosts, crystal gazing, shadows, air appearances,
birth stars, meteors, winds, sacrificial appearances, entrails of
humans and fishes, fire, red-hot irons, altar smoke, mice, barley,
salt, lead, dice, arrows, hatchet balance, sieve, ring suspension,
random dots, precious stones, pebbles, pebble heaps, mirrors, ash
writing, dreams, palmistry, nail rays, finger rings, numbers, book
passages, name letterings, laughing manners, ventriloquism, circle
walking, wax, susceptibility to hidden springs, wine and shoulder
blades."
FoRK Archive: The Longest Word
http://www.xent.com/FoRK-archive/sept99/0569.html
If you are interested in sesquipedalianism (the use of long words),
here are some interesting articles:
WordIQ: Definition of Longest Word in English
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Longest_word_in_English
Ask Oxford: What is the longest English word?
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwords/longestword?view=uk
Fun with Words: Longest Words
http://www.fun-with-words.com/word_longest.html
Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "310 letter word"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22310+letter+word%22
Google Web Search: "longest word" english
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22longest+word%22+english
I hope this is helpful. If anything is unclear or incomplete, please
request clarification; I'll be glad to offer further assistance before
you rate my answer.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |