Gargantuan

/ɡɑrˈɡæntʃuən/ adjective

Definition

Extremely large, huge, or enormous in size or amount.

Etymology

From Rabelais' 1532 novel 'Pantagruel,' which featured a giant named Gargantua. The French author invented the name, possibly combining 'gargante' (throat) and 'gant' (glove), and English adopted it as an adjective by the 1600s.

Kelly Says

Gargantuan is a rare example of a made-up word from fiction that became official English—Rabelais essentially created a giant so memorable that his name became the standard word for 'enormous' across multiple languages.

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