From DR. BOLI’S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY.

Hilarious (adjective).—Having to do with St. Hilary, patron of custard pies.

. 6 comments.

Comments

  1. Bjorn Bjornson says:
    May 26, 2011 at 6:53 am

    Hilary was elevated to sainthood during the papacy of Popes Howard, Fine and Howard II.

    Reply
  2. Jared says:
    May 28, 2011 at 9:48 am

    Then what do we call things pertaining to Pope St. Hilarius?

    Reply
    • Dr. Boli says:
      May 28, 2011 at 11:44 am

      “Hilarius” is merely the Latin nominative form of the name we render “Hilary” in English. We are free, of course, to use the word “hilarious” for things to do with anyone named Hilary, just as we are free to use the word “Johannine” for things having to do with Johnny Depp. But we must accept responsibility for the confusion we may cause.

      Reply
      • Jared says:
        May 28, 2011 at 5:15 pm

        Regrettably, I may have created just such confusion when I once referred to Rep. Ron Paul’s controversial newsletters as Pauline epistles. The alternative construction did not, alas, occur to me at that time.

        Thanks to your guidance, however, I can now recognize the importance of distinguishing between the Apostle of Libertarianism’s letters to the Gallatins and the Apostle to the Gentiles’ letter to the Galatians, and shall endeavor to better differentiate between the two in the future.

        Reply
  3. Fabulous Crone says:
    June 3, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    Actually, St. Kentigern is the patron of custard pies. The confusion occurred because he’s commemorated on the same day as St. Hillary, January 13. Because of this, the correct term, “Kentigurnious” never really caught on.

    Reply
  4. Fabulous Crone says:
    June 3, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    Alas, I misspelled “Kentigernious” in my last post.

    Reply

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