Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. The slow but steady rise of murmurs, coughs or harrumphs in audience. May indicate dissatisfaction, or the presence of a lethally infectious virus. v. To clear one's throat
Verboticisms
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Crowndswell
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: rhymes with groundswell
Sentence: A few sneezes and coughs soon escalated into a riotous crowndswell of snorts, hiccups, gagging, hacking and spluttering that forced the thespians to don surgical masks.
Etymology: groundswell (movement by the general population) + crowd (the audience in this case) + swell (grow, rise)
Crashendo
Created by: sodium
Pronunciation: crash-en-doe
Sentence: Sensing an oncoming crashendo, the director of "Hasselhoff: The Musical" decided to cut the performance after only the first act.
Etymology: crash = failure & crescendo = a gradual increase in volume
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COMMENTS:
Very funny sentence! - purpleartichokes, 2007-02-21: 11:37:00
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Cacoughony
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: kəkôfənē
Sentence: It started with a sniffle in the lobby. It soon swept over the entire audience and most of the cast. The cacoughony brought the production to a halt.
Etymology: cacophony (a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds) + cough (expel air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound)
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COMMENTS:
Excellent!! - CharlieB, 2011-01-28: 05:05:00
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Ahemdemonium
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: uh-hem-duh-moh-nee-uhm
Sentence: When the comedian crossed the line of good taste the room was overtaken with ahemdemonium. The ensuing cacophony left him no choice but to take a quick bow and exit the stage. The departure drew a standing ovation.
Etymology: ahem (an utterance similar to the sound of clearing one's throat, used to attract attention, express doubt or a mild warning, etc.) + pandemonium (wild uproar or unrestrained disorder; tumult or chaos)
Flocktalk
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: flok-tok
Sentence: The flocktalk that persisted throughout his entire xylophone performance was a clear indication that he needed to choose another profession.
Etymology: flock, talk
Hackle
Created by: NohWoman
Pronunciation: hackle
Sentence: At first there was just a lone hackler in the audience, but like a virus, the hackle spread across the crowd into a symphony of hackling.
Etymology: hack: a short, rasping dry cough + heckle: to harass a public speaker or performer. Works well as a verb and in noun form "hackler", as in the producer of a hackle.
Spectatorate
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: spek tay tor ayt
Sentence: The rate of spectatorate rises proportionately to the length and boredom with a production, sports event or movie. It is only surpassed by the exitspectatorate of patrons to the washrooms or snack bars. The former taking 45 minutes and the latter costing about $24 a pop.
Etymology: Spectator (a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as a performance or an exhibition of some kind) & Expectorate (clear out the chest and lungs;discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth)
Murviling
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: mer-VYL -ing
Sentence: What began as barely audible hissing and grumbling grew to outright murvilign as the audience grew more and more displeased with the cheesy and unprofessional performance of the cast of the play.
Etymology: Blend of 'murmur' (a mumbled expression of discontent. ) and 'revile' (to assail with contemptuous or opprobrious language; address or speak of abusively)
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by galwaywegian.
Thank you galwaywegian! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by galwaywegian.
Thank you galwaywegian! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by galwaywegian.
Thank you galwaywegian! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by galwaywegian. Thank you galwaywegian. ~ James