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Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1923, Page 1

A sesquipedalian*. LONDON. Auk- -'O. A man who never uses a short word if he can find a long one Mr Frederick William Tapp, of Kastbourne, stated last night: ‘•f do not use big words in a pedant io sense, but only in an expressive way. I localise I often find smaller words are inadequate and often inappropriate.’’ On a coroner’s jury on one occasion he was disputing with a witness when t!it coroner described him as “a disputatious old man.” Mr Tapp, who is only 7A retorted that he was not a “fossilised adolescent.” Giving evidence in the police oourt a few days ago, he began: “T was contemplating crossing the road when the influx of traffic was so great that I petitioned myself contiguous to the constable cn p -int duty. The magistrates’ clerk asked him to use simplier language. •‘Excuse me,” said Mr Tapp, “I am no’ a pedant hut a scholar. I will withdrew the word ‘contiguous’ and substitute ‘propinquity.’ ” Mr Tapp describes himself as a sesquipedalian (one who is given to the usi of long words).