THE LONGEST WORD

New Zealand Tablet, 19 October 1911, Page 2109

THE LONGEST WORD

'What is the longest word in the English . language?’ asked Uncle Tom.

‘ Valetudinarianism, I suppose,’ replied James, who had taken a prize in spelling. ‘ No,’ spoke up Susie ‘ it’s “smiles,” because there is a whole mile between the first and the last letters.’ ‘ I know one,’ said Jack, ‘ that has over three miles between its first and last letters.’ ‘What’s that?’ asked Uncle Tom. * Beleagured,’ cried Jack triumphantly. ‘I know one,’ said Phillip, that is longer than that. “Transcontinental” has a whole continent between its beginning and ending.’ ‘ “ Interoceanic ” beats them all,’ exclaimed Elsie, ‘ for it contains an ocean; and an ocean is’ larger than any continent.’