The Quad Cities representative in the Scripp's National Spelling Bee won't forget the word 'pontifical' anytime soon. 'Pontifical is the word that tripped up 11 year-old Daniel Healy yesterday, ending his participation in the competition to determine the country's best speller.

Daniel had won the right to represent our area in a local contest held earlier this year.

According to Google, the word 'pontifical' means both:

  1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) relating to the Pope. "a pontifical commission"
  2. characterized by a pompous and superior air of infallibility.

Hold your head high, Daniel, and thanks for representing us so well.

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