–tacular

suffix in the forming of nouns, ‘an exciting or extravagant event’ associated with the root; in the forming of adjectives, an intensifier of the root, ‘a lot, great, large, extravagant, excessive.’ Subjects: English

Editorial Note: Terms created with –tacular tend to be jocular one-offs, though some, like spooktacular and craptacular, appear to have more endurance. Etymological Note: From a resegmenting of spectacular, in which the syllable tacular splinters off of spec and becomes a combining form. This true segmenting of the word would ordinarily be spectacul, from the Latin spectacul-um ‘a show, spectacle, something worth observing’ and the Latin suffix –ar ‘of a kind; belonging to.’

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Citations: 1958 Lethbridge Herald (Alberta, Can.) (Oct. 28) (in advert.) p. 14: We’ve scared up a spook-tacular selection of grand buys. 1962 Lima News (Ohio) (Apr. 10) “‘Spring-Tacular’ At Bath Friday” p. 5: The Bath High School band…will present its annual “pops” concert, a “Spring-Tacular.” 1970 Chronic Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) (Nov. 29) (in advert.) p. 10: May’s Christmas Sports-Tacular. 1971 Reno Evening Gazette (Nev.) (May 18) (in advert.) p. 32: Wards Splash-Tacular 30x15’ “Leisure Life” Pool With Deluxe Features. 1992 News Record (North Hills, Penn.) (Aug. 2) “1992 Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta Schedule”: Digital Music Express Water Ski Tacular. 1994 [Dan Pearl] Usenet: rec.folk-dancing (Mar. 18) “NEFFA 1994—New England Folk Festival Schedule”: Spud-tacular Contras. 1994 [Scott Krahl] Usenet: alt.music.hardcore (Mar. 23) “GWARs Tour Dates 94”: Spew-tacular. 1995 [Jol Silversmith] Usenet: rec.arts.comics.misc (Aug. 3) “CBG Price Guide: threat or menace”: Sabrina’s Halloween Spook-tacular. 1996 [Mike Haddaway] Usenet: rec.sport.paintball (Apr. 3) “Re: Which Paint Tastes Best?”: I like the taste of purple premium myself. One time, my friends brother shot me in the goggles (Scott Intruders ) and it squeezed through the little hole in the cheek. Dripped to my mouth. Tast-tacular! 1997 Usenet: alt.tv.simpsons (Dec. 22) ““G” Rated Simpsons”: Although the strangling of Bart is harmless (and VERY old at this point)…the use of the word “craptacular” and the references in Bart’s dream raise a flag or two with the raiting. 1999 Usenet: alt.tv.real-world (June 7) “Re: [RW Ass All-Stars]”: Miami was Ass-Tacular! 2004 Varsity Online (Nov. 26) “Varsity’s end-of-year list-tacular”: (title)

Posted 20 Jan 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

Cf. the suffix <-tastic>, which often attaches to the same roots as <-tacular> for forming adjectives. ("Craptastic” and “craptacular” each return more than 50,000 Google-hits.)

by Ben Zimmer 21 Jan 05, 0818 GMT