Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To be unable to remember the name of a person you are speaking to, even though you've had a long-standing, and perhaps even an intimate relationship. n. An inability to remember a person's name.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Absintheminded
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: as sinth meyen did
Sentence: For over 30 years, once a month, the 6 friends had gotten together for drinks, snacks and an exchange of ideas and gossip, the way friends do. They had talked on every subject over the years, but creeping old age and the stress of daily living combined with copious tippling were starting to take their toll. Of late, their discussions took longer and many's an evening, their witty banter sounded more like: "You remember that actress,who was in some show with 5 friends (I can't remember the name of it), you know the one that used to be married to that guy who ran off with another actress and they had 4 kids ...she's another actor's daughter but they don't get along? You know, her dad was in an Academy award winning picture (I can't quite remember the title, but the music theme is going through my head).He was in it with what's his name who played in that movie about a soap star who had to become a woman to get work? Well, she, the first actress is a daughter of another actor who stars on that soap I used to watch and he was always a villain? You must remember...well, anyway, she just broke up with a guy who acted in that wedding movie with the actor who has a brother who also acts...you know the one I mean. Gosh they lead interesting lives!" Yes, the six grew more absintheminded with every toast. One of these times, they'd have to be hospitalized for anomia! Each night they got together, they performed their own version of "Geriatric Jeopardy". You know that game show hosted by that Canadian guy, Alex What's his name!
Etymology: absinthe (strong, supposedly hallucinogenetic liqueur which suppresses memory)& absent (mental pre-occupation) & minded (mental orientation)
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COMMENTS:
The tippling effects in your pronounciation, sentence and word, is so well done I can see it! Tippling, rippling great one! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 09:46:00
Dangit! I got all the way to "Geriatric Jeopardy" before totally cracking up laughing. Did anyone else make it that far? Your story was hysterical (except that it reminds me too much of myself when trying to remember celebrity's names). I love this word!!! - Tigger, 2008-03-04: 19:13:00
Luv your sentence and, especially, "Geriatric Jeopardy" - OZZIEBOB, 2008-03-04: 19:34:00
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Whoblank
Created by: Biscotti
Pronunciation: hoo-blank
Sentence: He was suffering from whoblank when he called his fiance by the wrong name the other day...how embarassing!
Etymology: who + blank (draw a blank as to who it is)
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COMMENTS:
Perhaps Dr. Who or the Hoos put a forgetful spell on him! After his who blank he really needs some good-luck charm! Fantastic creation! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 10:28:00
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Tagsnag
Created by: kateinkorea
Pronunciation: tag snag
Sentence: I went to introduce my best friend to my mother and had a tagsnag. I just completely went blank.
Etymology: tag: used for name or identity snag: unforeseen problem or stumbling block
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COMMENTS:
Fresh aspect in TAGSNAG. I love it. Short and snappy, too. - metrohumanx, 2008-12-31: 01:12:00
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Memoromission
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: mem - or - oh - miss - shun
Sentence: Plagued with a poor memory for names, Gilbert would often experience memoromission when encountering acquaintances.
Etymology: Mix of Memory and Omission
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COMMENTS:
Delightful mmmmmmm mmmmmm good alliteration! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 10:01:00
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Nomit
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: an/uh/nim
Sentence: On a regular basis, John nomits who he is with and just calls them 'Buddy' and 'Babe'.
Etymology: nom (name) + omit
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COMMENTS:
Uncomplicated but oh so powerful! Excellent creation! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 09:50:00
In the running for highest quality-to-length ratio for the whole site! - ErWenn, 2008-03-04: 09:59:00
I agree, Erwenn! Well put! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 19:01:00
Stevenson, every time I think of nomit, I think of gnome ... how in the world did you keep from making your sentence about gnomes? I've felt compelled all day to say your word (not sentence) has such a mythical and magical ambiance! So I finally said it! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 19:04:00
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Nomduhplume
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: nom/duh/ploom
Sentence: It is difficult enough to remember names of old friends but getting together with a writer's group became a nightmare trying to remember their nomduhplumes.
Etymology: nom de plume (pen name) + uh? + duh
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COMMENTS:
Delightful! - silveryaspen, 2008-12-29: 10:15:00
Eggzellunt!! Wish I'd thought of it! - Mustang, 2008-12-30: 00:28:00
Clever - OZZIEBOB, 2009-01-04: 16:13:00
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Palzheimers
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: palsz-HI-merz
Sentence: When Bob couldn't remember the names of his five former partners and his ten children, the judge wondered whether he was suffering from palzheimers, or that his namewashing was just a last-hitch attempt to avoid palimony.
Etymology: Blend of PAL: close friend, confidante etc & ALZHEIMERS: Used in the familiar and jocular sense for memory loss.
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COMMENTS:
Ach! You beat me to the Alzheimer's! (so to speak!)Well done, love your word. - Jamagra, 2008-03-04: 08:54:00
Good word. Kind of a sad idea, though. - ErWenn, 2008-03-04: 09:56:00
The opposite of palzheimers might be wisenheimers! Palzheimers might be a form of palsy of the brain! Your word is so evocative of so much! Stunningly great! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 10:20:00
a classic!! - galwaywegian, 2008-03-04: 12:11:00
excellent Ozzie - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-04: 13:03:00
Sweet! - purpleartichokes, 2008-03-04: 18:16:00
Unforgettable word, Bob! - Tigger, 2008-03-04: 18:34:00
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Nomenblanken
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: no - men - blank - n
Sentence: Raymond was great with faces but often forgot people's names. Sometimes he suffered from nomenblanken with people he had known for years. Especially asmusing was his talent for switching first and last names between his coworkers and friends.
Etymology: This is a play on the word nomenculture (a system of words used to name things in a particular discipline; "legal terminology"; "biological nomenclature;A system or arrangement of names) and the word blank (a gap or missing part).
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COMMENTS:
Nice! Sounds a bit like Teutonic mythology, too. - metrohumanx, 2008-12-29: 19:13:00
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Cognomemnocrapula
Created by: CanadianAndyCapp
Pronunciation: Kog-no-mem-no-krap-u-la
Sentence: As one who suffers from this difficulty, I can assure anyone that the initial stages of momentary forgetfullness of names can easily develop into a case of nomemoriatrix and finally a full-blown state of cognomemnocrapula.
Etymology: Short form of Latin: Cognomen (name), Memoria (Memory), Crapula (Terrible) / Atrox (Bad)
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COMMENTS:
Double creations! Etymology latinations. Deep roots sprouting an astounding piar of words! Amazing! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 10:43:00
pair ... forgive me my fingerslips ... they need to learn to quit being too quick tipsy. - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 10:44:00
your word would fit in well to the music of "La cucaracha, cognomemnocrapula Ya no puede caminar - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-04: 13:12:00
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Amornesia
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: ämoŏrnēzhə
Sentence: Wendy was no good in the morning. Until she had had at least 2 cups of coffee, she was lucky if she could remember her own name. To work her way around her amornesia she took on the habit of calling anybody who ended up in her bedroom sweetheart. Unless she woke up in Starbucks, this is the way it was destined to stay.
Etymology: amore (love - Italian) + amnesia (a partial or total loss of memory)
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COMMENTS:
Absolutely caffeine-dish! - metrohumanx, 2008-12-29: 19:14:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by silveryaspen. Thank you silveryaspen. ~ James
silveryaspen - 2008-03-04: 17:07:00
Your great word associations and creations made my day, everyone. It is a pleasure to have these mind associations with all of you every day! Isn't this website like sunshine for the mind? !!! Everyone contributes some rays! Everyone goes away warmed by some rays!
silveryaspen - 2008-03-04: 17:08:00
Good job with the defninition and cartoon. Thank you, James.
Thank you Silveryaspen for the inspiring words! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by silveryaspen. Thank you silveryaspen. ~ James