From top, Joseph Kaden and Claire Rathburn of Friday Harbor Elementary School receive gift certificates and candy bars from Grange member Pat Ball for winning the Grange dictionary contest. The two third-graders were the first to identify the meaning of
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From top, Joseph Kaden and Claire Rathburn of Friday Harbor Elementary School receive gift certificates and candy bars from Grange member Pat Ball for winning the Grange dictionary contest. The two third-graders were the first to identify the meaning of 'floccinaucinihilipilification.'

What does 'floccinaucinihilipilification' mean? Ask third-graders Joseph Kaden and Claire Rathburn


February 8, 2010 · 11:23 AM

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Friday Harbor Elementary School third-graders Joseph Kaden and Claire Rathburn correctly identified the meaning of the word — get ready for this — "floccinaucinihilipilification" in the local Grange's dictionary contest.

They each received a $20 gift certificate from Serendipity Book Store, and a 100 Grand candy bar from Pomona Grange member Pat Ball.

Claire is a student in Darlene Clark's class. Joseph is a student in Tessa DeGavre's class.

The Grange gave away almost 90 dictionaries to local third-graders recently, and challenged students to look up "floccinaucinihilipilification." Claire and Joseph e-mailed their answers within minutes of each other, on the same day the contest opened.

Incidentally, the word "floccinaucinihilipilification" means "the estimation of a thing as worthless." The word was found on page 364 of "A Student's Dictionary."

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