Vote for the best verboticism.

'Yeah, I'm in heaven now.'

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.

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Verboticisms

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Dalyinglama

CharlieB

Created by: CharlieB

Pronunciation: dall-i-ing-lama

Sentence: You might think His Holiness would never tell an untruth, but when it comes to sparing someone's feelings, he becomes the DalyingLama.

Etymology: Dalai Lama (Buddhist leader) + lying (not telling the truth)

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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Love

aditisharma

Created by: aditisharma

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Inakurt

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: inn ah kurt

Sentence: the statement was inakurt but onne understood the gut feeling

Etymology: inaccurate, Kurt

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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.

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Nonsensical

AnnieChandon

Created by: AnnieChandon

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Placebalm

metrohumanx

Created by: metrohumanx

Pronunciation: PLUH-CEE-BALM

Sentence: I told the panic-stricken crowd that all would be well. It was only a PLACEBALM, but it was sorely needed.

Etymology: PLACEBO-a harmless sugar pill which can have theraputic results. BALM- a soothing salve or oinment.

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COMMENTS:

Very pleasant word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-24: 08:12:00

Hehehe lol! GREAT create! ;) - abrakadeborah, 2009-03-25: 14:14:00

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Plafibo

Created by: OZZIEBOB

Pronunciation: pla-FEE-bo

Sentence: "What do I say?" thought Bob. That was what he had been asking himself all week. But Roxie's questions were flying faster than any of his answers were coming in to land. He needed a plafibo to allay her fears; he hoped he would find one before she found out that he had lost the tickets for their upcoming overseas trip.

Etymology: PLACEBO: ME from Latin: I shall be pleased;an innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier & FIB: a small trivial lie, minor falsehood.

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COMMENTS:

great - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-23: 16:03:00

Good one! - lumina, 2008-06-23: 22:55:00

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Chickenpoup

Created by: purpleartichokes

Pronunciation: chi-ken-poop

Sentence: I thought his concern was sincere when I told him of my hamster Kitty's passing. I later realized it was just chickenpoup for my soul when he suggested I flush her down the toilet.

Etymology: chicken soup for the soul; poop (as in a line of crap)

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COMMENTS:

Never understood the notion of chicken soup being comforting, cos frankly the stuff I've had has always been vile. That opined, the connotation of cowardice is good. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-16: 14:59:00

Well, after you pick out all the mushy vegetables, add more noodles, a dash of lemon and pepper, it's palatable. I guess chicken soup sounded better than Whopper with Cheese. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-16: 15:26:00

That sounds suspiciously like actually cooking something to me. Gimme the can of cream of tomato instead. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-16: 16:11:00

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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!

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-16: 15:03:00
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-16: 15:12:00
RE: "Best Verbotoon Ever" Thanks ErWenn! However I must say it was all inspired by KV himself. So it goes... ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-17: 16:11:00
See the top 4 words of the day at Yeah, I'm in heaven now ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-06-23: 00:01:00
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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-11-02: 00:00:00
Today's definition was suggested by vonnegut. Thank you vonnegut. ~ James

metrohumanx metrohumanx - 2009-11-02: 01:42:00
Live it or live WITH it!