Can You Define ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANISM for me?

Answer 1

Antidisestablishmentarianism is usually used as an example of one of the longest English words that actually means something. Used mostly in reference to the Anglican Church in 19th-century England, it refers to opposition to the separation of Church and State.


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 in 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 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.

If the word is taken literally, it could mean 'against the enemies of the establishment, but not necessarily aligned with the establishment'. If one loosens the definition of establishment to include a dominant force in a situation. An example of this in a modern sense may be the Israel (being modern antidisestablishmentarianists), the United States of America (the 'establishment') and terrorists (disestablishmentarianists). In other words, three parties, the first of which is in a position of power compared to the other two, the second who shares a common foe, the third party, with the first.

Antidisestablishmentarianism might still be the longest word not invented for the specific purpose of being a long word, however. (the word floccinaucinihilipilification was 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 "antiantidisestablismentarianism" is a valid word, where it refers specifically to antidisestablishmentarians' opponents, rather than merely disestablishmentarians in general.

Answer 2

Antidisestablishmentarianism Define

Answer 3

Main Entry: antidisestablishmentarianism
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: originally, opposition to the disestablishment of the Church of England, now opposition to the belief that there should no longer be an official church in a country
Example: When people are asked for the longest word they know, they often say antidisestablishmentarianism.

Answer 4

An antidisestablishmentarian is a person who opposes the removal of an establishment.

Antidisestablishmentarianism, commonly called the longest word in the English language, is the name for this type of belief.

Answer 5

Main Entry: antidisestablishmentarianism Part of Speech: n Definition: originally, opposition to the disestablishment of the Church of England, now opposition to the belief that there should no longer be an official church in a country Example: When people are asked for the longest word they know, they often say antidisestablishmentarianism.

Answer 6

Dictionary.com defines disestablishmentarian as:
An opponent of an established order, especially one who opposes state support of an established church.

So, antidisestablishmentarian would be the opposite, someone who supports an established order, such as state support of an established church.

Answer 7

I don't think it was ever intended to mean anything other than being purportedly the longest word in the dictionary. I say purportedly because I'm not sure it ever was in the dictionary, I cetainly never found it listed. I suppose you could try and derive a meaning from successively applying the prefixes and suffixes to the root, but "anti" and "dis", as a double negative, undo each other and "arian" and "ism" are redundant.

Answer 8

But split the lonest word into meaningful units.

Take the root word: Establish : meaning settle.
Estabilshment: Institution

Dis establishment: Unsettling the Institution.

Disestablishmentarian:Tendency to unsettle the Institution / establishment.

'Anti' pronunced as 'antai': This Prefix means 'opposed to / against.

So let's get them all together & arrive at the definition of 'Antiestablishmentarian'; Something / one opposed to the tendency of unsettling / disrupting a well-founded INSTITUTION / Establishment.

Still longer word is 'ANTIESTABLISHMENTARIANISM'!

Have any idea of other long words?

Send me the honorarium 10 points.

Answer 9

the doctrine or political position that opposes the withdrawal of state recognition of an established church; - used especially concerning the Anglican Church in England. Opposed to disestablishmentarianism.

Answer 10

It means being against the dismantling of the government or a large institution.