Verboticisms

Created by: doseydotes

Pronunciation: ˈhaŋ-ˈzī-ə-tē

Sentence: Mildred tried to fight it, she really did, but she found herself sweaty with hangxiety every time she passed Ralph, Woolworth's security guard. It had been 55 years since she'd filched that tube of lipstick - she'd been too scared to ever use it, and she ended up throwing it in a drainage ditch - but she was certain that all Ralph had to do was look at her closely enough and he'd KNOW.

Etymology: From the British root, hang, meaning to stand about waiting for the trouble to start so one can get in on it early; and the Finnish (the Fins are such good finishers), xiety, meaning a group that collectively ducks its head in a guilty manner.

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Interesting etymology! When I think of hanging ... I think gallows! Your word is frighteningly good! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:45:00

One way to generate true hangziety would be to ask a cop "How's it haning?" - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:47:00

Such a clever pun ... and incorporating hang with all it's meanings was absolutely brilliant! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:48:00

Comprehensive and learned etymology. Saturday night's alright for fighting.... - stache, 2008-03-20: 16:53:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Created by: Biscotti

Pronunciation: kop-oh-fo-bee-uh

Sentence: Alex was suffering severe copophobia when he was followed across state lines by a SWAT van. He thought they were following him because he tossed out a beer bottle earlier. Eventually he was pulled over and ony cited for littering.

Etymology: cop (slang for a police officer) + phobia (fear of something)

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

A SWAT van needed to chase a litter? Why only cited for drinking? Your sentence left me hanging! Please finish me off? Maybe I'm just copophobic ... scared too senseless ... to figure it out! Very meaning full word! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 16:56:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: cop-air-uh-NOYa

Sentence: Whenever Lucy noticed that any sort of law officer appeared to be looking in her direction she suffered seizures of coparanoia fearful that they had likely learned about the many minor infractions she'd committed over the last couple years.

Etymology: Blend of 'cop' (police officer) and 'paranoia' (a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution'

| Comments and Points

Created by: kimmarie

Pronunciation: cop-shus

Sentence: Ever since she thought of lifting that pack of gum from the 7-eleven she has been copscious of anyone around her in uniform.

Etymology: cop + conscious

| Comments and Points

Created by: Anemeus

Pronunciation: [kɑːpres]

Sentence: Copress is the feeling that rise up being followed by policemen. Examples: "I am feeling copress" "It was copress for the police cars behind him"

Etymology: Cop, policeman Stress, be stressed

| Comments and Points

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: cop ab il itee

Sentence: When Sherry forgot her purse at home and found she was driving around without her registration and insurance, she spotted a police car on every corner. Her copability was running in overdrive. She became particularly guilty of coplicity, when one of the squad cars appeared to be following her. She carefully tried evasive maneouvers, but it stayed with her. She was close to panic mode when the offending car swung off and into a donut shop parking lot. Whew, she thought...lucky they never realized that my no-good, two-timing boyfriend was bound up in the trunk!

Etymology: Cop (Slang for Police) & Culpability (a state of guilt)

| Comments and Points

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: kop shee en shuss

Sentence: When Zelda looked in her rear view mirror, that old feeling of being copscientious swept over her when she saw the patrol car behind her with two of the city's finest inside. A drop of sweat started on her brow and the perspiration started flowing. No wonder they called cops The Heat, she thought. She continued driving down the street, hoping they would get called away soon. She was meticulous in her driving procedures, for all her anxiety. Would they pull me over for some minor infraction? Had she forgotten some teensy traffic law? Her hands grew clammy and she prayed that she could get through the next light and leave them behind. Of course, no such luck today. She continued driving and trying to suppress that panicky feeling, hoping that her nervousness would not translate into a foolish mistake. She tried to remember where she had her pink slip and registration papers...her purse or her glove compartment? Letting her eyes stray back to the rear view mirror, she was horrified to see that they had moved up closer behind her. Now, she thought, I'll make a right turn (legally, of course) and try to lose them. To her horror, they signalled to turn right as well. Now she was beyond being copscientious, she was spiralling into panic mode. In the next moment, she felt relief sweep over her, as the patrol car turned into a driveway. She drove on away as the police pulled up to the donut shop. Thank goodness they had never stopped her. It would have been hard to explain away her husband's lifeless body in the trunk!!

Etymology: cops (bad boys, bad boys, what you gonna do, what you gonna do when they come for you??) & Conscientious (characterized by extreme care and great effort )

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

terrific story - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-20: 11:10:00

Agreed, great story — gave me chills. - Tigger, 2008-03-20: 11:46:00

Terrorific sentence and word! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:22:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Created by: arrrteest

Pronunciation: awto-culpa-sep-shun

Sentence: Julie became acutely aware of her parasympathetic body functions such as her breathing and eyeblinking as soon as she noticed the cops walking in her direction. She new she wasn't speeding because she was walking. No, perhaps they caught her jay-walking two blocks ago, or maybe someone reported her when she accidently stepped on a praying mantis. Or perhaps it was Homeland Security coming to get her for something she said on a telephone call, or the evil thoughts she had towards her boyfriend's ex. Whatever it was, Julie was suffering from an acute case of autoculpaception.

Etymology: auto (self) + culp (fault, blame)+ ception (perception)

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Very intellectual and scholarly! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 16:17:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: jahn/darm/alarm

Sentence: I experience such acute gendarmealarm that I even break into a sweat when I see a hall monitor from a French immersion school.

Etymology: gendarme + alarm

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Had you been motoring about in London perhaps you'd have experienced 'bobby caution'? - Mustang, 2008-03-20: 07:13:00

Or Plodduck. - petaj, 2008-03-20: 09:29:00

Fun to say! Nice one. - Jamagra, 2008-03-20: 11:53:00

Double Stong'arm'ed Creation! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:26:00

tres bien - stache, 2008-03-21: 00:00:00

Gendarmit - i should have thought of that one! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-03-22: 00:30:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Created by: purpleartichokes

Pronunciation: sus-spookd

Sentence: Seeing the cop car in her rear view mirror, Alice felt susspooked, recalling that just yesterday she had ripped off from her mattress the DO NOT REMOVE UNDER PENALTY OF LAW tag.

Etymology: suspect, spooked

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Not the mattress tag!? Oh, that's hilarious. - Tigger, 2008-03-20: 11:57:00

Great originality! It ssssssslides over the tongue and ends with a poke ... fun to say and a fun sentence ... Double Kudos to you today! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 16:03:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points