# What are the four common English words ending in "-dous"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-four-common-english-words-ending-in-dous/223185>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [January 7, 2004, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-four-common-english-words-ending-in-dous/223185 "2004-01-07T10:44:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![suborbitcom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@suborbitcom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suborbitcom)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-four-common-english-words-ending-in-dous/223185/1 "2004-01-07T10:44:23Z")

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Original staff report: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_236.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_236.html)

Cecil mentioned “Jeopardous” was no longer in the dictionary. I have found it in many modern dictionaries - not to mention [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com).

> **[Definition of jeopardous | Dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/jeopardous)**
>
> Definition of jeopardous from Dictionary.com, the world’s leading online source for English definitions, pronunciations, word origins, idioms, Word of the Day, and more.

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**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-four-common-english-words-ending-in-dous/223185/2 "2004-01-07T20:02:07Z")

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He didn’t say it was no longer in the dictionary, he said that the _Oxford English Dictionary_ didn’t give any examples of it actually being used in literature after 1661. (Since this is an old column, I don’t know whether he meant the 1928 or 1933 edition, or the OED2. Hang on for a moment…

No, the New Supplement doesn’t list it, either.

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**Author:** ![Faldage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Faldage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faldage)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-four-common-english-words-ending-in-dous/223185/3 "2004-01-08T20:56:39Z")

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I guess it depends on what you call common. [Onelook](http://www.onelook.com/?w=*dous&scwo=1&sswo=0) lists 39 that it calls common. I’d go with _hazardous, horrendous, stupendous_ and _tremendous_.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-four-common-english-words-ending-in-dous/223185/4 "2004-01-09T01:00:32Z")

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**Faldage** , you’re obviously fairly new here. Please note that this thread is COMMENTING on a column that Cecil alreadywrote, namely:[What are the four common English words ending in “-dous”?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_236.html)

There is a link in the initiating post in this thread. You should READ the column first, because you’re just repeating what’s already been said. You’ll know for next time, eh?

And, **suborbit** , you’re obviously new too, so welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board. You are commenting on a column by Cecil and not a Staff Report, so I’m moving this to the appropriate forum.