Why do we have the word 'antidisestablishmentarianism?' Why don't we just call it establishment?

Jac

Actually anti-dis-anything doesn't necessarily mean the same as the plain word on its own. One can be anti-disappointment but that doesn't make you pro appointment. (OK, that's a silly example but there are more sensible ones. You can disagree with the tactics of, say, an anti-bloodsports campaigner, without being pro-bloodsports yourself - that would make you anti-anti-bloodsports...) Mar 13 03, 2:19 PM

Jeeves

The church was established in England when a group of people wanted to disestablish it. The antidisestablishment group were against the disestablishers. They could not be called establishers because the church was already established. I'll be asking questions later. Mar 13 03, 3:58 PM

Baloo55th

Actually, the word doesn't mean establishment, or pro-establishment. It dates from when the Anglican Church was the Established Church in Ireland (or Scotland - can't remember which) and the majority of the population was Roman Catholic (or Presbyterian if it was Scotland). There was a move to dis-establish the Anglican Church in that region (Established meaning it was the Official One). Some people didn't like this idea, and wanted to keep Anglicanism. (Most of these lived in England, and weren't affected anyway.) So they were Anti - Dis - Establishment. This made them Anti - Dis - Establishment - Arians, and their policy was Anti - Dis - Establishment - Arian - Ism. The name was a bit of a joke, really. But it stuck as a word that many can quote, but few understand. Until now, when the readership of FunTrivia can join the elite and bore everyone else of their acquaintance with this explanation! Mar 13 03, 5:28 PM

kerry8888

well there you go..... you learn something new ever day. thanks :) though i must say there surely had to be a better word than that to make the point.... or maybe that was the point - use a word that was threatening and confusing - thats always worth a few extra brownie points in a war of words.... :) Mar 13 03, 9:18 PM