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.
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.
Fibfort
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: fib-fort
Sentence: Clarence told many fibforts to his grandkids just before bed time.
Etymology: fib (lie) + comfort (minus the com)
Benein
Created by: rebelvin
Pronunciation: BEnign+NEIN
Sentence: The fact that he had Alzheimer's disease justified the beneins we told him to keep him happy.
Etymology: BEnign+NEIN Benign - 1. Having little or no detrimental effect; harmless 2. Showing gentleness and mildness. Nein - GERMAN: no; a word used for denying, disagreeing, refusing etc.
Dalyinglama
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)
Lullalie
Created by: suzanne
Pronunciation: lull-ay-ly
Sentence: martha was afraid her wedding dress made her looked fat but as we were already walking down the aisle I felt that a lullalie would be safer than admitting she looked like a cruise liner from the back.
Etymology: lull- to gently rock or soothe lie - untruth.,
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Oooo. Like it! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-16: 07:12:00
I cannot tell a lullalie! very good - galwaywegian, 2007-04-16: 07:18:00
Perfect for sleep-inducing and deceitful politicians - wordmeister, 2007-04-17: 05:08:00
----------------------------
Mindgrout
Created by: metrohumanx
Pronunciation: MIND-Grrr-OUT!
Sentence: Life is depressing- there can be no doubt . But a blow from a mallet won’t sort it all out. Truth can be awkward, And bullshit can calm… So break out the MINDGROUT It’s a pretty cheap balm!
Etymology: MIND:recollection, memory,the element or complex of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons; Middle English, from Old English gemynd; akin to Old High German gimunt memory, Latin ment-, mens mind, monēre to remind, warn, Greek menos spirit, mnasthai, mimnēskesthai to remember....... GROUT: thin mortar used for filling spaces (as the joints in masonry), any of various other materials used for a similar purpose; Middle English, coarse meal, from Old English grūt; akin to Old English grēot grit 1638
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail.html
- metrohumanx, 2009-11-02: 01:49:00
Welcome back, metropoet! - Nosila, 2009-11-02: 09:30:00
Thanks, Wordforge! - metrohumanx, 2009-11-03: 02:16:00
----------------------------
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.
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
great - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-23: 16:03:00
Good one! - lumina, 2008-06-23: 22:55:00
----------------------------
Frib
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: fribb
Sentence: As was his nature, Alexander once again passed along a frib when asked a hard question with a potentially embarrasing answer, a tiny untruth that was told to spare the feelings of his friend.
Etymology: Blend of the words 'fib' (small lie) and 'rib'...to poke fun or make light of.
Lieability
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: lye abil itee
Sentence: When it came time to complete his staff's evaluations, Kurt had to use his lieability skills to soften the blows. He'd say things like "Joe is a very reliable worker, when he is here." or "Mary Jane is flexible...she is equally ill at ease with large groups or a single person." or "Fred's long, liquid lunches make the afternoons go quickly and he creates a party mood among his peers for the last hour each workday." or "Roxanne can light up a room, just by leaving it."
Etymology: Lie (a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth) & Ability (skill;able to achieve something)and Wordplay on Liability (the quality of being something that holds you back)
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!