Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A harmless untruth, intended to comfort simple souls. v. To use a little bit a fiction to smooth over the perplexities and complexities of life.
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.
Freewill
Created by: playdohheart
Pronunciation: Free will
Sentence: "You were sick and now you're well again," shouted Trout, a freewill message that started Trout's creed.
Etymology: For Vonnegut (circa Timequake)... had to do it... I'm writing my thesis on him.
Virdecept
Created by: Ellemorpheus
Pronunciation: Ver-dih-sept Veer-dih-sept Ver-dee-sept Veer-dee-sept
Sentence: The broken man told a small virdecept to make the young couple feel better.
Etymology: Vir-virtue/virgin/pure decept- deception, deceive
Folkology
Created by: jonobo
Pronunciation: phool-psycho-ollo-G
Sentence: Bruce-actual-lee i could have used the already existing word "folk-psychology" which already covers the subject. The philosophical best verboticism for this definition is the word TRUTH itself, but that would be less fun... damn... i should have changed to FOOLKOLOGY...
Etymology: folk of fools + El O.G. = foolkology
Placeebull
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: pla/see/bull
Sentence: 'Hard work always pays off' - a placeebull to keep workers motivated
Etymology: placebo + bull (as in bullshit) (had to put the second e in my word to emphasize sound)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
okayee - galwaywegian, 2007-04-16: 06:30:00
Ain't it the truth!?! - Sed8ed, 2007-04-16: 06:33:00
That example sounds like an alfalsism. Or a generaLIEzation. - petaj, 2007-04-16: 06:37:00
That's a great play on words! - jedijawa, 2007-04-16: 12:56:00
----------------------------
Prevaricreation
Created by: karenanne
Pronunciation: pre VARE uh cree AY shun
Sentence: When Sara asked if she were ever going to have a baby brother or sister, her mother was ready for the question. She told Sara a little prevaricreation about how she was "so special that God only gives out one like you every once in a while." Well, actually, that was kind of true, if by "special" one meant "insufferable," "obnoxious," "time-sucking," and/or "über-bratty."
Etymology: prevarication (n.: a statement that deviates from the truth; a fib) + create
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Good one - Nosila, 2009-11-03: 01:09:00
----------------------------
Foma
Created by: vonnegut
Pronunciation: fo-ma
Sentence: Nothing in this book is true. "Live by the foma* that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy." The Books of Bokonon. I: 5
Etymology: Created by Kurt Vonnegut for Cat's Cradle, published in 1963.
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
foma - accept no substitutes. - Alchemist, 2007-04-16: 06:51:00
we can't go through the whole week respelling Vonneguts words....or can we? - rikboyee, 2007-04-16: 09:24:00
It's the best way to win the prize.... :-) - jedijawa, 2007-04-16: 12:54:00
What's the singular? And should I have heard of Vonnegut? Has he been on TV? Recently? Bliss. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-16: 15:11:00
The singular form is "fomum", like phenomena (plural) and phenomenum (signular). Comes from Latin. Did you study Latin in highschool? I did, and I'm still trying to get over it. - wordmeister, 2007-04-16: 15:22:00
It's all Greek to me! - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-16: 16:14:00
you can even go into the news/blog section and it will tell you which word this definition comes from.... i honestly feel that using Vonneguts word taints the wampeter of our humble karass - rikboyee, 2007-04-16: 17:44:00
----------------------------
Saidafib
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: sed/a/fib
Sentence: A saidafib should be taken at bedtime to discourage nightmares.
Etymology: said a fib + sedative
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
I like it... - Nosila, 2008-06-23: 22:03:00
Sounds funny when you say it out loud - wordmeister, 2008-06-24: 00:33:00
Clevre. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-24: 08:09:00
"Sedafib" would have been nice too. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-24: 08:15:00
----------------------------
Sugarsatz
Created by: mplsbohemian
Pronunciation: SHOOG-ur-sats
Sentence: Alex realised that the president's speech about victory in the war and a glowing economy was just a pile of sugarsatz.
Etymology: sugar + ersatz (fake). The initial "sh" sound also calls to mind a certain four-letter word which often fits this definition, as well. Moreover, "sugarsatz" sounds vaguely Yiddish, from which American English derives many words that couldalsofitthebill.
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Heady ... I like that. - jedijawa, 2007-04-16: 12:54:00
Agree. I forgot what erstaz meant! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-16: 14:30:00
From above: ersatz (fake) - mplsbohemian, 2007-04-16: 15:24:00
----------------------------
Pliecebo
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: ply-see-boh
Sentence: He was happy to soothe her with a simple pliecebo
Etymology: lie, placebo
Comments:
ErWenn - 2007-04-16: 08:00:00
Best verbotoon ever. So it goes, buddy, so it goes.
ErWenn - 2007-04-16: 08:20:00
Just noticed what was written on the typewriter. Ha!
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James
RE: "Best Verbotoon Ever" Thanks ErWenn! However I must say it was all inspired by KV himself. So it goes... ~ James
See the top 4 words of the day at Yeah, I'm in heaven now ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James
wurdless - 2008-07-12: 15:23:00
Vonnegut is cool!
reverb - 2008-07-12: 15:31:00
cat's cradle rocks
Today's definition was suggested by vonnegut. Thank you vonnegut. ~ James
Live it or live WITH it!