Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To have difficulty recognizing, and correctly interpreting, human facial expressions. n. A person who cannot read faces.
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.
Misinterpotato
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: miss-in-tur-pah-tay-toe
Sentence: My boss is one of those people who has a permanent grin affixed to his face, which is why I always find myself in hot water for committing misinterpotato.
Etymology: misinterpret, potato (slang for head), Mr. Potato Head (a toy with easily discernable facial expressions)
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COMMENTS:
I like this one, too. Silly, but descriptive. - Clayton, 2007-05-09: 19:00:00
Thanks. I had words that would probably be better liked by the consensus, but this one looked like misterpotato(head). I love Mr. Potatohead! And I loved the way it sounded. Mis-in-ter-po-ta-to. It's benign and semi-comical (in my humble potato-head's opinion). - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-09: 20:14:00
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Bemuggled
Created by: toadstool57
Pronunciation: bee-mug-uld
Sentence: Jill was bemuggled by Dave's smile. Was he laughing with her, or at her?
Etymology: befuddled, mug
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COMMENTS:
So is that why Harry Potter had such a hard time living with his Aunt and Uncle... he was bemuggled? - pinwheel, 2007-05-09: 11:11:00
funny! - Jabberwocky, 2007-05-09: 12:29:00
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Missedemeanour
Created by: CharlieB
Pronunciation: miss-duh-mean-er
Sentence: As Bill threw his paper aeroplane across the classroom, Mr Smith frowned. Bill mistook his stern expression for one of delight, promptly grinned and set about making an entire air force from his maths text book. He wasn't being naughty, it was just an unfortunate missedemeanour.
Etymology: Missed (failed to notice or understand) + demeanour (facial appearance) + Misdemeanour (misbehaviour)
Discognify
Created by: jonobo
Pronunciation: dis-cogni-fy
Sentence: He completely discognified her defensive monkey-smile for an open invitation into deeper conversation. She discognified my looks on her T-Shirt for interest in her *oops*, but actually i was only interested in the printing-technique of the message on her chest.
Etymology: dissonance = reduced to "dis" cognitare = latin for recognize identify dissonance + cognitare + identify = discognify.
Alibressive
Created by: k3nbr33
Pronunciation: a-lib-ress-iv
Sentence: The man was alibressive when he thought the woman liked him by her smile
Etymology: a-without libr-read essive-expression
Physiognomuddle
Created by: Clayton
Pronunciation: fiz-ee-OG-nuh-MUHD-l
Sentence: Clarence's frequent physiognomuddling was only compounded by his wife's tic.
Etymology: physiognomy + muddle
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COMMENTS:
Had to run to the dictionary. Great word! - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-09: 06:49:00
Thanks a lot! I'm new to this game, but having a blast. - Clayton, 2007-05-09: 14:27:00
Welcome aboard, verbmatey! - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-09: 14:54:00
Thanks. Joined too late in the week to win anything, though. - Clayton, 2007-05-09: 14:56:00
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Dissthwarted
Created by: geoamnesia
Pronunciation:
Sentence: I can't really tell if they are laughing or smirking -- so my life is about feeling dissthwarted and pretending not to be.
Etymology:
Misvibception
Created by: marinus
Pronunciation: mis-vib-cep-tion
Sentence: In his misvibception, disinterest meant confusion and I was stuck having the longest conversation on Shakespearian etymology I never wanted to have.
Etymology: mistaken, vibes, reception.
Misexpressionize
Created by: rubysoho
Pronunciation: miss-ex-PRESH-shun-ize
Sentence: Often people who are not successful at dating learn that it is because they tend to misexpressionize.
Etymology:
Comments:
Today's definition was inspired by Cory Doctorow's short story "I, Row-Boat", where a sentient, and very sensitive Row-Boat has some difficulty reading a woman's facial expressions. See the full story in Overclocked. Thank you Cory! ~ James
MIENBLIND is very good- and far more cerebral than my entry. Good work, Ozziebob.
MaybeLater_x - 2008-08-19: 19:10:00
Visagenary is also a play on Imaginary, nay?
Today's definition was suggested by doctorow. Thank you doctorow. ~ James
ldikarev - 2012-09-06: 16:44:00
ldikarev - 2012-09-06: 16:45:00
Prosopagnosia -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopagnosia Prosopagnosia (Greek: "prosopon" = "face", "agnosia" = "not knowing") is a disorder of fa