Vote for the best verboticism.

'All I had was a wooden brain...'

DEFINITION: n. A person who, using an example from their own life, steers people away from a line of speculation by reducing it to an absurdity. v. To dismantle a logical argument with piles of passionate incoherence.

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Verboticisms

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You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.

Illustrationgist

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: ill/us/tray/shun/jist

Sentence: Her dad was the ultimate illustrationgist - he reduced every conversation to taking a walk down memory lane

Etymology: illustration (example) + gist (meaning)

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COMMENTS:

playdohheart Ooh, this is an interesting spin on the definition. - playdohheart, 2007-04-18: 07:37:00

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Focalrecoiliot

Created by: Bulletchewer

Pronunciation: fo-cull-re-coyl-ee-utt

Sentence: Tony was a focalrecoiliot, citing his days in "Ugly Rumours" as the definitive evidence that we ought to go to war with Iraq (I mean, with America, against Iraq)instead of investing in our hospitals and schools.

Etymology: From that film (sorry, movie) Total Recall, "focal" meaning "nothing", "recoil" meaning "backward jerk of a gun" and "idiot" meaning "Governator". Who else wants some acid?

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COMMENTS:

don't atke this the wrong way Bulletchewer but I think focalrecoil might have worked better because it's the same number of syllables as total recall - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-18: 13:28:00

I meant don't take but you probably figured that out - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-18: 13:30:00

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Anecdotophile

zrotv

Created by: zrotv

Pronunciation: ăn'ĭk -dŏt'ə-fīl

Sentence: I try to have logical conversations with people who don't read, but they are always such anecdotophiles. They never have any sources for information, just nebulous myths and stories.

Etymology: anecdote and phile (New Latin -philus, from Greek -philos, beloved, dear, from philos, beloved, loving.)

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Foolluminati

Created by: OZZIEBOB

Pronunciation: f-loo-muh-Nah-tee

Sentence: "Emily, this is Dad. I only have a minute, so listen closely. Do you have a pencil and paper at hand?'' "No, Dad, but I'm at my computer, so go ahead." "Quickly. Turn it off now and keep it off for at least a week, so the system doesn't overheat. Don't you remember what I told you about machines:treat them with care and they'll never wear out; that computer will still be working when you're a grandmother." Although others may have been deeply shocked by this kind of advice, Emily replied "Yes, I understand; no problem...Dad." By the time Emily had put the phone down, she had already made up her mind to leave it off-the-hook for the next week, although she knew that he would try to contact her by telegram. Thankfully, after all, he was busy at the "Quill and Abacus Restoration Society's" annual meeting, and would after be attending the "Gaslighter's Guild" for a few days. At least, she consoled herself, she would be free for a little while from the inanities of this fatherly foolluminati. (last try: Sillustrator)

Etymology: FOOL: a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense. IILLUMINATI: People, or person, claiming to be unusually enlightened with regard to a subject

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COMMENTS:

love the way this sounds - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-25: 12:24:00

LOVE that word AND the "sentence" is hilarious! :) - lumina, 2008-06-25: 12:58:00

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Disingenue

Created by: Koekbroer

Pronunciation: dis-in-jen-oo

Sentence: Doug really believes that by being a disingenue he can make people change their viewpoints.

Etymology: a contraction of "disingenuous" (not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does) and "ingenue" - a harmless, naive character

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Redialongate

Created by: mana1066

Pronunciation: re-dile-on-get

Sentence: every time i mention rings, or chappels, my boyfriend becomes a redialongate and tells me about how silver and gold are really a conspiracy

Etymology: redirect + language + elongate

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Logihooey

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: läjihoōē

Sentence: Whenever Cindy approaches her father with a proposal to buy something he bombards her with logihooey, passionate drivel about how he had to work for everything he has ever owned. To hear him, you would think that, as a baby, he had to work to buy his own diapers.

Etymology: logic (reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity) + hooey (nonsense)

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Philosophistry

CharlieB

Created by: CharlieB

Pronunciation: fill-oh-sof-is-tree

Sentence: George Osbourne's sense of his place in the world was completely dement-Id. 'The bankers' failure should be rewarded with more perks, because they're from Eton and will do the right thing,' he rationa-lies-ed to the country.

Etymology: philsophy (system of personal beliefs) + sophistry (a false argument)

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Fishstorian

Created by: toadstool57

Pronunciation: fish-stor-ee-un

Sentence: My dad, the dontor, was a great fishstorian, luring me away from any prospect by telling tales of "back in the day" when he chose that option.

Etymology: fish story, historian

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COMMENTS:

very clever! - wordmeister, 2007-04-19: 04:14:00

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Negatiate

Created by: suzanne

Pronunciation: negg-ate-ee-ate

Sentence: Mary wanted to study German but her father negatieted by saying how he had lived his whole life speaking only English and he had never been arrested.

Etymology: neg- from nagative atiate - derivative from negotiate.

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COMMENTS:

probably should be negatiator, but the sentence alone is worth a vote - galwaywegian, 2007-04-18: 05:22:00

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-18: 02:13:00
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-06-25: 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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-11-04: 00:33:00
Today's definition was suggested by vonnegut. Thank you vonnegut. ~ James