"Brobdingnagian ego"

[Raven]

One of my favorite writers applied this term to Trump.

[MineralMan]

1. .01 percent of the US population will recognize that word.

Even fewer will know its origin.

[Raven]

2. I know. That's why I liked it.

[MineralMan]

4. Me, too.

Interestingly enough, people will understand the meaning right away, from the context. Most people who know anything about Gulliver's Travels, will only know the Lilliput story from Swift's satirical book. These days, the number of youngsters exposed to it is probably far smaller than it used to be.

More's the pity.

[Turbineguy]

3. OK. I had to look it up.

Excellent choice.

[MineralMan]

6. It's a great example of how people learn word meanings from context, though.

Huge, gigantic, oversized. Anyone familiar with Trump would understand the word right away, but not its origin.

[3catwoman3]

9. Sad, but true. The state of vocabulary and literary sophistication is steadily declining.

In my mid-twenties, quite briefly, I dated a guy about whom I was rather uncertain. One time, he said to me, "You've got to stop using them big words." The "them big words" was bad enough. When it turned out the big word was ambivalent , I was no longer ambivalent about him.

[MineralMan]

16. The size of a person's vocabulary says a lot about how much he or she reads.

I've always been hesitant to form relationships with people who have small vocabularies. Since I've always been a voracious reader, the conflicts about how we spent some of our time would be clear. Donald Trump makes it clear that he has read little. His vocabulary appears to me to be about that of a 10-year-old. I could not have a conversation with him.

Your example of ambivalent is a good one.

[Liberal In Texas]

22. Sadly, I think you are corect.

We are becoming a nation of stupid people. "Idiocracy" seems not only a satire on our times, but strangely prescient.

And yes, I knew it was Jonathan Swift right off.

[customerserviceguy]

26. It doesn't trip off the tongue

half as easily as "Lilliputian".

[3catwoman3]

5. Combined with Lilliputian abilities.

Bad combo.

[MineralMan]

7. Abilities and, apparently, some body parts.

[3catwoman3]

10. I knew if I did not comment on that, someone...

...else surely would.

[MineralMan]

11. At your service...

[Gothmog]

8. trump thinks that he is a lock for Time Person of the Year

Link to tweet

[Oneironaut]

12. Can you say it again for me?

[Raven]

13. Funny...I know what it means but I can't pronounce it.

[Oneironaut]

15. "One more time. Now, say it three times fast"

“Brobdingnagian, Brobdingna… How did you even get it in here?”

[SMC22307]

19. Poor Raj and his little bird.

LOL

[Hekate]

14. I caught that swiftly. Good morning all my quick witted friends...

[Raven]

17. I guess Thanksgiving is a time to think back...

and when I read that this morning I was reminded of my father who took a real delight in words and their origins. He would say to us "here's a wonderful word, look it up." I guess I got the gene and happily passed it on. Makes me want to cry right now.

[ProudLib72]

18. Houyhnhnm society is the best

Just live with animals and be done with the people.

[3catwoman3]

20. OK - had to look that one up.

Not sure when I will get a chance to use it.

[ProudLib72]

21. That's a tough one for sure

Everyone knows "Lilliputian". Some know "Brobdingnagian". It's extremely rare that anyone remembers the horses.

[Princess Turandot]

23. Whoever came up with the name for 'Yahoo' search etc. obviously didn't! nt

[ProudLib72]

24. Do you think Yahoo Serious would have been bigger if he were named Houyhnhnm Serious?

[edhopper]

25. Lilipution intellect