"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
Showing posts with label Delectation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Delectation. Show all posts

Sunday, 19 April 2009

Delectation

GB asked recently if delectation was a real word. It is. Delectation is delight: a feeling of extreme pleasure or satisfaction; enjoyment: the act of receiving pleasure from something.

I recall the old Edwardian-style music hall program on the BBC used to have a Master of Ceremonies who delighted in the use of long words and he would announce someone as being ‘For our delectation’.