"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."

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’.

2 comments:

  1. Yep. That's where I remembered it from.

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  2. Sounds like a foodie thing, and that is always a delight!

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