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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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: irst 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.

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Mercifiction

Created by: ErWenn

Pronunciation: /ˌmɚsəˈfɪkʃən/

Sentence: Most of the new security policy instituted by the TSA are at best mercifiction and at worst malignacity.

Etymology: From mercy + fiction (reminiscent of merciful)

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Troose

Created by: reverb

Pronunciation: troos

Sentence: Some people thought CEO was stealing money from the shareholders, but troose was that he was just borrowing it.

Etymology: loose truth

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COMMENTS:

seems to fit - reverb, 2008-07-12: 15:40:00

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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

petaj 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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Fibrication

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: fibrəkāshən

Sentence: Where did I come from? What happened to fluffy? Does this dress look good on me? What do you think of my artwork? Do you love me? Questions like these can spark fibrication.

Etymology: fib (a lie, typically an unimportant one) + fabrication (invent or concoct (something), typically with deceitful intent)

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Lieability

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: ly ab ili tee

Sentence: Kurt's lieability helped improve his likeability.

Etymology: Lie (untruth;to deceive) & Ability ( possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done0 & Woredplay on Liability (the quality of being something that holds you back)

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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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Lightwry

americanogig

Created by: americanogig

Pronunciation: Light-wry.

Sentence: She asked me if the dress that was two sizes too small made her look fat. Considering my options, I figured it was time for a lightwry.

Etymology: A combination of the words light and wry, a variation on white lie.

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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!