Mathematicians think they're so smart,
But us wordsmiths, we know better.
All those math types can do is add numbers,
But it's far more fun to add letters.

In math, things are so very dull:
Two plus two equals four.
But to a wordsmith, we add like this:
"O" plus "R" equals "or."
Plus "E" equals "ore,"
Plus "F" equals "fore,"
Plus "be" — "before!"
Before what? Before "hand,"
Makes "beforehand."
Ha!
Now wasn't that grand?

An example of word combination:
Floccinaucinihilipilification.
It's a word that means depreciation,
And I shall explain to you its formation.

There was a scholarly sort who knew Latin,
So he stitched together these words:
Floccus, naucum, nihil, and pilus,
And formed a term quite absurd!

We have so many good words,
So why try to make new ones?
I find that fusing a few with some verbal glue,
To stick them together's more fun.

So you see, I've nothing against math,
Do with numbers whatever you wish,
But I have no need of your algebras,
Because I've got good old English.

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Author guidance for This story

I want this collection of poems/prose to explain how words are added into the English language.
If you don't think one poem provides an adequate explanation to your liking, write one that does. Be silly, sarcastic, serious--whatever. Please keep your explanations clean, though.
Now you say that you don't know where words come from? Well, do some research! Or, better yet, use your fantastically sublime imagination and write your own explanation.

****I included a lot of big words in my poem on purpose because doing so made me happy as the words all tickled my tongue. Do what makes you happy, okay?****

updated Mar 25 '10 by C3Lady