Should we defend uselessness? Dictionary makers have been collecting words that they think the world could do without — but which should be kept for the sake of beauty.
How wonderful words can be utterly pointless
Should we defend uselessness? Dictionary makers have been collecting words that they think the world could do without - but which should be kept for the sake of beauty.
Sharon groaned. She had felt real fleshment about organising her birthday party - but her hircine stepmother was limiting her to six guests.
That was just so novercal!
The sentences above contain three words most people have never come across. "Fleshment" means the excitement that comes from a good start. "Hircine" means "smelling like a goat". "Novercal" means "to do with a stepmother".
All these words appear on the Merriam-Webster dictionaryA book with a big list of words and their meanings. 's list of "Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words".
"They're wonderful," it says of the words. "They're often quite pointless."
There are many other interesting words on the list. One is "ultracrepidarian", defined as "giving opinionsViews or judgements, rather than facts. on matters outside your knowledge".
Another is "pennyweighter", meaning someone who steals a piece of jewellery by swapping it for a fake.
Should we defend uselessness?
Yes! A world which only included useful things would be very boring indeed. The things that make life worth living are often silly or beautiful or funny - not useful.
No! There are lots of things to be getting on with in today's busy world. We should get rid of anything which we do not really need.
Dictionary - A book with a big list of words and their meanings.
Opinions - Views or judgements, rather than facts.
How wonderful words can be utterly pointless

Glossary
Dictionary - A book with a big list of words and their meanings.
Opinions - Views or judgements, rather than facts.