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'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

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.

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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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

playdohheart 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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Flashyak

hooterbug

Created by: hooterbug

Pronunciation: \ˈflash\ yak\

Sentence: "Kill me now" little Lisa thought as her Dad spew forth another reason she couldnt get a new computer whilst having another flashyak.

Etymology: Combination of Flash meaning to appear suddenly :an idea flashes into her mind or to move with great speed and Yak: to talk persistently to chatter

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COMMENTS:

good one! - wordmeister, 2008-06-26: 11:02:00

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Manicdotal

Created by: rikboyee

Pronunciation: man-ik-doe-tul

Sentence: In order to get the upperhand in this argument he was going to need to provide some pretty persuasive manicdotal evidence

Etymology: manic, anecdote

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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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Lamentor

Created by: purpleartichokes

Pronunciation: lah-men-tor

Sentence: My lamentor warned me that if I didn't stop indulging my dark chocolate passion, I would end up as he used to be - a depraved chocoholic, selling my plasma and collecting discarded aluminum cans in order to get my next "fix".

Etymology: lament, mentor

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COMMENTS:

you lead a very colourful life purple - I always get a chuckle out of your sentences - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-18: 13:33:00

Oh dear. There goes the last vestige of normalcy I was clinging on to. By the way, don't bother searching Ebay for cow manure to feed your purple artichokes - apparently, cows don't poop anymore because there are no listings. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-18: 15:10:00

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Nostalgit

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation:

Sentence: dad was such a nostalgit it was difficult to believe he'd ever had lead in his pencil

Etymology: nostalgic cit

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Stiflemeister

Created by: thinkbolt

Pronunciation: sty-ful-my-ster

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Anecdadalist

playdohheart

Created by: playdohheart

Pronunciation: an-ec-da-da-list

Sentence: "When I was younger I only had one pair of pants. They were purple plaid flares and all the other kids made fun of me. And when you bring up the subject of pants, I think of that and then I get all worried that I'm still just the kid with the proverbial purple plaid flares and you're such an angel of miraculous beauty. I'm going to go lay down now because I'm upset. I don't think I can go out to dinner tonight until I feel validated as a man again... you know... sexually." She sighed, realizing she should have known better than to ask Jim, the master anecdadalist, if she looked fat in these pants.

Etymology: anecdotalist + Dada (an art movement that used nonsense to challenge ideas and concepts)

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COMMENTS:

Fantastic sentence! Can't wait til the book comes out! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-18: 06:00:00

you get my vote for a great story - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-18: 08:54:00

Just realised that your name could've worked for yesterday's definition. I've seen murderers with shorter sentences, mind. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-18: 13:03:00

Be careful with your acid-ic comments Bulletchewer. Keep in mind Playdoheart's heart is made of playdoh - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-18: 13:17:00

playdohheart Ha, you're right about the name relating to yesterday! But I think a playdohheart would be the one having his or her life molded by someone like a domimator. I did get a bit carried away by the novel-ty of my sentence(/paragraph), but it appears I'll do anything to make the punchline work... the best jokes are dangerous. - playdohheart, 2007-04-18: 14:52:00

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Abswervist

petaj

Created by: petaj

Pronunciation: ab-swerve-ist

Sentence: The repertory group had come to be known as the Theatre of the Abswerve. Since Eugene, a playwright, kept banging on about his past productions, they could not settle on a script.

Etymology: absurd, swerve

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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