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.
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)
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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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.
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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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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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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Soitghost
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: soe it goest
Sentence: His soitghosts will remain relevent wherever there is a need for humour in tragic situations.
Etymology: "so it goes" ghost
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".
Willorized
Created by: willster
Pronunciation: will-or-iz-ed
Sentence: She was extremely willorized by his touch.
Etymology: Will being in the first person; of his magnificness
Solaception
Created by: PythianHabenero
Pronunciation: solace-ep-tion
Sentence: Lying through your teeth when a girl asks you if that dress makes her look fat is a common form of solaception.
Etymology: solace + deception
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!