Vote for the best verboticism.
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.
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.
Prepostulate
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: pre-PAWST-yew-layt
Sentence: In giving reasons to others in defense of his sometimes goofy notions, Elmer would regularly prepostulate, rambling on with odd and sometimes even bizarre rationale.
Etymology: Blend of the words 'preposterous' (adj. contrary to nature, reason, or common sense) and 'postulate' (to claim or assume the existence or truth of, especially as a basis for reasoning or arguing)
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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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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Philosophistry
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)
Allaboutmeathead
Created by: lumina
Pronunciation: ol-uh-bowt-meet-hed
Sentence: Little Suzy knew that there was no way Dad would agree that she was old enough AND responsible enough to have her own laptop. Last time she asked, he went on for over an hour about the days before Google "was invented." She had to listen to "what it REALLY means to do research." Yeah, she was done trying. Dad was nothing but an allaboutmeathead with a library card in his wallet.
Etymology: All about me = Narcissist Meatheard = Meat for brains
Reproofool
Created by: Alchemist
Pronunciation: re-PRUFE-fool
Sentence: Gran is a veteran reproofool. Every time my cell phone rings, he starts in about "Walking 20 miles to school, uphill both ways..."
Etymology: reproof, fool
Tangentvangelist
Created by: porsche
Pronunciation: tan/jent/van/jel/ist
Sentence: My sixth grade teacher was a tangentvangelist who answered every question with a reference to the black plague
Etymology: tangent + evangelist
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COMMENTS:
Probably the best use of "evangelist" outside occult circles (or should that be pentagrams?). - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-18: 12:14:00
Good word. Also made me think of that SNL sketch, "In a vannn down by the rivvver". That guy was a tangentvangelist if anyone ever was. - playdohheart, 2007-04-18: 15:09:00
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Prehistorer
Created by: greenheatherbutterfly
Pronunciation: just say it as you see it.
Sentence: He had such prehistoric values in life, he was such a prehistorer!!!
Etymology:
Fauxistoric
Created by: paperhoard
Pronunciation: foe-is-towrick
Sentence: When Jim was confronted with the elevated electric bill, he went into a a fauxistoric rampage babbling about human beings being used as batteries...
Etymology: faux + history
Pisstorian
Created by: pinwheel
Pronunciation: piss/tor/ee/an
Sentence: I don't believe grandpa really lived in a cardboard box and only had stale bread and water when he was a child. He must be a pisstorian!
Etymology: Piss (as in taking the piss) + historian
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by vonnegut. Thank you vonnegut. ~ James