Why do I need to know abracadabrantesque?
Most of the time spent learning a language is dedicated to learning the essentials but this word is all about having some fun with French.
So, what does it mean?
Abracadabrantesque means 'preposterous', 'lacking credibility', 'ludicrous' and 'unbelievable'.
It might not surprise you to find out that it's an adaptation of the word 'abracadabra' which means the same in French as it does in English and it is also an extended version of the more common French word abracadabrant which means 'bizarre', 'weird', 'startling', 'confounding' and 'bewildering'.
Origin
The invention of abracadabrantesque has been attributed to French poet Arthur Rimbaud however some sources say it was first seen in a novel called Les Vagabonds by French writer Mario Proth in 1865.
Nevertheless it's former French president Jacques Chirac who is credited with popularising the word after using it in a TV interview in 2000.
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