 |
| click to enlarge |
Gargantuan
No, not orangutan, although it looks somewhat similar. This refers to something much larger.
Does anyone recognize that picture? It's an artist's interpretation of the game Shadow of the Colossus, one of the best, and most beautifully designed games every made. Anyway ...
gar·gan·tu·an [gaː(r)ˈgæntjuən] adj. of immense size, volume, or capacity; gigantic
Synonyms: elephantine, giant, jumbo, massive, colossal, gigantic, enormous, tremendous, immense, mammoth, humongous, stupendous, prodigious
Etymology: 1590s, from Gargantua, large-mouthed giant in Rabelais' novels, supposedly from Sp./Port. garganta "gullet, throat," which is from the same imitative root as gargle.
66 comments:
For a moment there I thought the pic was a mushroom cloud! :)
'Gargantuan' is a word that is definitely out of style.
Like Jessica, I thought the picture was a mushroom cloud at first. I guess a mushroom cloud could be described as gargantuan, though anyone close enough to describe it as such will probably be incinerated or otherwise die of radiation.
Hey an original word and thought I was so pleased
This is a fun challenge
I am glad I found you
here is my link
http://www.astringofpearls.org/a-z-in-26-days/
The google login is out of date
I thought it was Hiroshima all over again.
Cool how it comes from a novel.
Oooo, I love this word! (=
I like the way you take words and add the thesaurus for them. It makes you see so many more possibilities for them.
I've always liked that word...
The etymology of the words is really interesting. This one in particular.
Hi Matthew .. just done a trawl through your batholith - not one I remember or use that often, Cuirass - is a great word, I'm sure I've heard it used in relation to beetles; dexterity - yes, poor lefthanded people, Esoteric - I use it without really realising why, and Fetor - can understand the root word, but Fetor itself .. and now Gargantuan, which I do use occassionally ..
Love the words and the etymology .. cheers Hilary
I love this word.
Definitely an interesting picture. It looks like a monster to me. Great picture for your word today.
Inresting to look at, wonderful G post.
Happy Easter
Yvonne.
I just love big words like that...maybe even more than "humongous".
I've always thought that gargantuan is a fun word to say. :)
Never heard that word, and yes my first thought went to Orangutan. lol
That's so cool that it stems from the word gargle. Who knew!
I like that picture. Kind of an in media res picture...
The picture reminds me of a love child between the Rancor from Return of the Jedi and the Balrog from Fellowship of the Ring.
I've never played the game before but you're right...that is a beautiful depiction of a fascinating creature. Great post.
I do love that word. I tend to use it whenever I exaggerate in conversation.
Jamie
Fellow A-Z bloggy buddy
Mithril Wisdom
Great word (finally one I use in normal conversation). :)
Aha! A word I not only k ow, but one I sometimes even use! Didn't know it originated from a novel though. So, what exactly IS that a picture of? A smoke monster? Like in Lost?
At first, I thought it was a giant terrier.
You don't hear people using "gargantuan" these days. They've made up their own new word: "ginormous."
my son played that game and it WAS beautifully rendered - and that gargantuan was scary!!!
Awesome word. That poor dude the the bow and arrow seems seriously outmatched. lol
War of the Gargantuas always comes to my mind. Too many Japanese monster movies as a kid I guess.
I knew this one :)
I love this word! I use it every chance I get.
I always use it to describe my headaches.
I always use it to describe me thighs!
Man against the Mountain. What's his weak spot?
Nice image.
Hello! I am finally in! Back from my trip and ready for the gargantuan (wink,wink) challenge I got my first post up today.
Thanks!
Hi Matt, that is quite a picture. Talk about faces in the clouds!
Thanks so much for stopping by to see me.
Kathy M.
I prefer "gargantuan" when it is used to describe a certain part of the male anatomy. My curiosity overwhelms me at that point and I am forced to watch the entire porno.
wonderful word and i too thought the picture was the bomb
I'm a big fan of the word. A huge fan... I, I need another word here to describe just how big of a fan I am.
Damn, I got nothing. Really big fan though.
Funny that you used gargantuan...I was brainstorming words that mean LARGE with my kindergartners before break to describe the monster construction equipment brought onto the school yard...and one of the words the kids came up with was GARGATUAN!
Happy A-Z April!
This is one of my favorite words!! Not sure why; I just like it. Awesome choice.
I had no problem to understand todays word immediately.
I know Gargantua from my youth while reading Rabelais.
It is something from Europe and I live in Europe :-)
New word to add to my book.
wow! that illustration is GORGEOUS!
I love this word. I don't have the chance to use it much, except in sarcastic comments to the teens I teach, but it still gets utilized as much as possible.
Nice word. Rarely use it. Maybe I should. http://1000wrongs.blogspot.com
It's a giant puppy! Whatever you do, don't let it lick you!
I think I'm related to Gargantua. Got a pretty big mouth myself. :)
This reminds me of the new Clash of the Titans movie...I can't wait to see it. :)
Hope the Easter bunny leaves you some goodies tomorrow, Matt!
Today's word was one I was actually familiar with. YAY!!
And that is one heck of a gargantuan in that picture.
Gargantuan could also be used to describe my friendship with you. Or would epic be more appropriate?
This word should be used in place of the much duller 'gigantic' wherever possible.
yay for SOTC! I've played it through 3 times. I'm actually working through it a 4th time right now (we got a PS3 and immediately bought the SOTC and IKO combo pack) but got killed at the very end of the final colossus and then needed a break before i got really, really angry.
Gah, SUCH a great game!
Good gravy! I'm still learning Angry Birds!...:)JP
Intriguing!
It's such a great word! It must make a re-entry into my daily vocabulary.
It's such a great word! It must make a re-entry into my daily vocabulary.
Love this word & will endeavour to use it more in daily life, thanks :)
I love the SOTC reference. It is a masterpiece in the videogame genre (the only work of art I can name off the top of my head from the past decade), but sadly underrated (like most masterpieces). Props to you!
interesting picture
Cool picture! Alas, I'm not familiar with that game.. gee, and I thought of myself as a gamer! egad!
(soz, the word gargantuan brings out all the fancy words in me--alas and egad are as fancy as I get)
My son suddenly spurted this word forth last week, talking about a dog - the biggest ever, apparently - and took me quite my surprise! Another fun word!
My son suddenly spurted this word forth last week, talking about a dog - the biggest ever, apparently - and took me quite my surprise! Another fun word!
I love this word. I'm waiting for one of my kids to say it. :-)
Interesting theme, Matthew. You have chosen some of my favorite words--esoteric, gargantuan, haberdasher--words that pleasantly roll off the tongue and somehow make me smile. Thanks!
Highly underused. I think we need to bring it back.
great issues altogether, you just received brand new reader. What could you recommend in regards to your post that you just made some days in the past? Any positive?
Post a Comment