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DEFINITION: v., To search for and find a pen to write down an important note, only to discover that the pen does not work. n., A moment in time when the only pens you can find, are pens that do not work.

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Verboticisms

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Dudstriment

Created by: abrakadeborah

Pronunciation: dud-stri-mint

Sentence: All of the pens in the office were dudstriments when Sam really needed to take notes.

Etymology: Dud- a person or thing that proves ineffectual or a failure. Instriments taken in part of the correct spelling "instruments" - An implement used to facilitate work.

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Notworthy

Created by: marge

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Ninscribe

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: nin-skrahyb

Sentence: It doesn't matter how many pens he owns, Larry always finds the one that has no ink and proceeds to ninscribe whatever urgent message he is trying to retain. Some of his pens even play jokes on him by writing a few works before transforming into paper scratchers.

Etymology: ninja (mercenary in feudal Japan reported to possess the ability to be invisible) + inscribe (to mark a surface with words, characters, etc.)

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Penninkless

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: Pen-ink-less

Sentence: Marvin searched in vain for a pen that would dispense ink evenly but sadly, he remained penninkless

Etymology: pen - ink -less

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Capentulate

Created by: mvsmyth

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Inkvain

Created by: petaj

Pronunciation: ink-vain

Sentence: It was all inkvain. Scrabbling through the bureau drawer in search of a writing implement while the gormless game-show host rabbited on about numbers to call had proven fruitless, and Sally was left despondent that she had not been able to write down the SMS number to win $5000 on Who wants to be a Millionaire.

Etymology: in vain (to no purpose) + ink (what the pens are missing)

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Birony

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: by ron ee

Sentence: It was one of life's bits of birony that Fred could only find pens in his house that were all out of ink. He could never find the write stuff!

Etymology: Biro (a pen that has a small metal ball as the point of transfer of ink to paper) & Irony (incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs)

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