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'Let me hold the door for you...'

DEFINITION: n., A gallant gesture which does not produce the desired effect because of poor execution. v., To offer a small gesture of assistance, which backfires as you trip over your own kind intentions.

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Verboticisms

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Behalfgaffe

Created by: Wordfanne

Pronunciation:

Sentence: When Roland stood up to allow a pregnant, fellow-bus-rider his seat, his behalfgaffe of stepping on another woman's skirt hem, pulling its waist to her knees, rather nullified his desired "effect".

Etymology:

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Harmoanious

Created by: porsche

Pronunciation: harm/o/nee/us

Sentence:

Etymology: harmonious + harm + maon

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Mannerd

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: man-nerd

Sentence: Even though Sal was a brilliant rocket scientist, he was totally inept in social situations, especially when it came to his approach to women. In his dreams he was dashing, witty and chivalrous, but the reality was that he was well-mannerd because his attempts to be polite and helpful were so awkward.

Etymology: mannered (well) polite, courteous + nerd: socially inept

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Doomerang

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: doōmərang

Sentence: Wendel tried once again to do the gracious thing. As he attempted to help an older woman carry a heavy bag of groceries to her car only to trip and scatter the contents across the pavement. He would have stayed and helped her clean up the mess but she seemed much more intent on beating him with her cane than retrieving her broken eggs. Once again he found himself to be an expert at creating doomerangs, those deeds that always find a way to come back and boot you in the seat.

Etymology: doom (death, destruction, or some other terrible fate) + boomerang (a curved flat piece of wood that can be thrown so as to return to the thrower)

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COMMENTS:

great sentence - bookowl, 2008-09-24: 13:44:00

Nice word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-09-25: 18:21:00

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Gallantrip

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: gal-uh n-trip

Sentence: Warren sees himself as a knight in shining amour. More often than not he gallantrips if he acts on these loving feelings.

Etymology: gallantry (dashing courage; heroic bravery; noble-minded behavior) + trip (to make a slip, error, or mistake)

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Beaujest

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: bo/jest

Sentence: My beau geste quickly turned into a beaujest as I slipped on the ice trying to help an elderly lady across the street. She fractured her hip and I bruised my ego.

Etymology: beau geste (gracious gesture) + jest

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COMMENTS:

Clever! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-10-28: 02:28:00

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Whipgesture

Created by: runner

Pronunciation: wip jest your

Sentence: Ted suffered a painful whipgesture while trying to hold the door open for Lisa.

Etymology: whip: move briskly, gesture: an act toward another person

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Ineptsuavitis

Created by: mryder

Pronunciation: in-ept / swah-ve / itis

Sentence: Billy would have loved to open the door for the pretty girl; however his ineptsuavitis set in and he ended up getting himself trapped in the door.

Etymology: inept-ORIGIN originally in the sense unsuitable: from Latin ineptus, from in- ‘not’ + aptus ‘fitted. Suave-ORIGIN Latin suavis ‘agreeable’ itis (suffix)— ORIGIN from Greek -ites

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Chivowry

libertybelle

Created by: libertybelle

Pronunciation: shiv-ow-ree

Sentence: The act of Danny helping Kim out of the car and throwing his back out in the process proved to be another fine example of chivowry

Etymology: chivalry + owwww

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Hurteous

Created by: bzav1

Pronunciation: rhymes with courteous

Sentence: Jeff's clumsy attempts to avoid the impedestrian, led to several hurteous acts. He had no intention of being nonsiderate.

Etymology: impedestrian - one that walks very slowly down the middle of the sidewalk nonsiderate - antonym for considerate

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COMMENTS:

good one! - remistram, 2007-10-26: 09:22:00

MrDave2176 This is a good word...sounds like it feels. - MrDave2176, 2007-10-26: 13:06:00

way to times 'er by 3! - Kevcom, 2007-10-28: 17:20:00

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-10-26: 00:30:00
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn! ~ James

petaj petaj - 2007-10-26: 04:21:00
After you. No after you. No after you. No after yooooooeeeeouwwww!

Kevcom - 2007-10-26: 07:38:00
Awesome cartoon James! That is so funny - I was almost dyin' of laughter of the expression on the guys face...

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-10-26: 10:05:00
Thanks to Kevcom and Petaj for your hurteous thoughts and magnanimistakian clobbergestures ~ James

Lidipop - 2007-10-26: 10:19:00
I actually printed this one out...it's so good, well done!!!

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-10-26: 17:46:00
We must not forget to thank ErWenn again for his generous courteslip. ~ James

purpleartichokes - 2007-10-26: 18:57:00
Yes, thank you ErWenn and James. Fabulous contributions from you two!

yellowbird - 2008-09-24: 11:49:00
Haven't we seen this definition before?

petaj - 2008-09-26: 04:19:00
Yep - looking forward to some new ones

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-02-23: 00:10:00
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn. ~ James