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.
Psoothedology
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: sooth/dol/uh/gee
Sentence: In all shaky governments and dictatorships, one of the key posts in the government is the department of psoothedolgy which sends out the media messages to comfort the masses and promote stability.
Etymology: PSOOTHEDOLOGY - noun - from PSEUDOLOGY (lying considered as an art) + SOOTHE (to tranquilize, or calm a person, or their feelings)
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COMMENTS:
Interesting blend - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-24: 08:13:00
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Skullhuggery
Created by: pinwheel
Pronunciation: skull/hug/ar/ee
Sentence: It's a massive spot on the end of my nose but my boyfriend says you can hardly see it. He's either blind or telling me a skullhuggery!
Etymology: Skullduggery + Hug
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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Fibassurance
Created by: SmoothP
Pronunciation: fib-uh-shoo-rants
Sentence: It was clear to the adults that Mr. Puddles hadn't gone to any "happy doggy farm", but the fibassurance seemed to satisfy little Tommy.
Etymology: From the latin "fibassi" meaning comfort, and "uranceum" meaning "to lie".
Consolie
Created by: justinchau
Pronunciation: con-sol-lie
Sentence: I had to consolie my patient when he wanted assurance that x-rays had no radiation. I consolied the hypochondriac by assuring her the pill wasn't a placebo.
Etymology: console + lie
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COMMENTS:
Hmm, what about alieviate (alleviate + lie)? - justinchau, 2008-06-23: 05:55:00
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Santootheastorkfairbunnyism
Created by: Sharpedgeshurt
Pronunciation: San-tooth-eest-oark-fayr-buh-nee-izm
Sentence: "I don't care, I'm still not using sleeping pills." The insomniac argued when told by the receptionist that he wouldn't be able to get an appointment with the Sand Man because he was a santootheastorkfairbunnyism.
Etymology: First used in mid 1980's during a drunken round of "Say-all-the-fictional-childhood-characters-that-visit-your-house, in-one-breath game." It has rarely been used since.
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.
Tootroo
Created by: patb
Pronunciation: too-troo
Sentence: Tom used tootroo about the "non-infectious airborne contagions" to convince his girlfriend that it was okay to kiss, as long as he didn't breathe
Etymology: too true two
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)
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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
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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!
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!