Category: word games

Parts of Speech and Verbotomy

Clayton posted this comment today…

Clayton – 2007-05-12: 17:21:00
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the highest scoring words often do not reflect the part of speech suggested by the definition? Occasionally, this can be somewhat difficult to determine from a given description, but “the sacrifice a mother makes” clearly indicates that this word is meant to be a noun. Just nitpicking.

It is not the first time that this question has been asked. ErWenn posted similar suggestion when he joined in December.

ErWenn – 2006-12-14
I’ve just joined, and so far, every definition has been for a verb, but most of them lend themselves better to nouns. For example, it’s easier to name a disease or condition than it is to give a word that describes succumbing to such a condition. Most of the winning words are nouns, as you can see. I think you should either formally open it up for any part of speech communicating the idea, choose the part of speech for each definition more carefully, or strictly enforce matching the part of speech of the definition.

So far we have not introduced rules relating to the parts of speech. Our goal is to encouage creativity. And we want to give people enough rope so that they can be as creative as they they want.

Generally speaking, I like the variety that looser verb typing allows. And it seems to be working. Some players create verbs. Some create nouns. A few create adjectives. And very few create adverbs… But a lot create articles! And very entertaining articles at that.

The variety also makes for interesting reading on each definition. And it gives each player a little creative leeway where they can explore ideas from a different angles. This is good. The definitions are working as launching-off point for people to create new ideas, have fun with a little word play.

Nevertheless, the parts of speech are important. And if we wanted, we could add it to the game. Perhaps the easiest thing to do would be to create a special verbroom where the parts of speech would formally included, either as a requirement, or for bonus points, or for something…

Please let me know what you think.

Create your own rules!

James

Ahhh! My hair! Don’t let them see me like this!

DEFINITION: To remain calm, steadfast and ploddingly systematic in the midst of a huge freaking disaster.

Ahhh! My hair! Don't let them see me like this!

VERBOTICISMS: (Invented words created by the Verbotomy Writers)

Fiascool: /fee-as-cool/ The caterers were running late, the flowers were wilting, the groom was still running around naked after his stag night and I was struggling to get into my dress. It was all a horrible mess but throughout it all James, the best man, was totally fiascool. Etymology: fiasco + cool Created by: pinwheel.

Zencompetent: /rhymes with “incompetent”/ Sarah zencompetantly rounded up the 73 monkeys that had escaped from their cages; not a single one was injured, and Sarah avoided all of the flug poop. Etymology: zen (calm, state of peace) + competent (competent) Created by: benjamin.

Ablomb: /uh-BLAHM/ Alex faced his simultaneous flu, audit, firing, and computer crash with ablomb. Etymology: aplomb in the face of a bomb Created by: mplsbohemian.

Androitude: /AHN – droi – tyood/ No, it wasn’t the crashing of a plane infested with snakes or the holdup of the diner that made Samuel L. Jackson’s girlfriend go ballistic and frantically screaming for help… it was actually his androitude. Etymology: android (a systematic cyberhuman; we all know how freakishly organized C-3PO was) + attitude (disposition) Created by: ohwtepph.

To see more verboticisms for this definition go to:
https://www.verbotomy.com/verboticisms.php?jid=sysadmin

Be Creative,

James

www.verbotomy.com
the create-a-word game

Look at that big smile!

DEFINITION: To have difficulty recognizing, and correctly interpreting, human facial expressions.

Look at that big smile!

VERBOTICISMS: (Invented words created by the Verbotomy Writers)

Misguise: /miss-guys/ He would always misguise the apprehensive looks on co-workers faces and consequently talk to his boss when it was an inappropriate time Etymology: miss + guise Created by: Jabberwocky.

Kissermisser: /kiss-er-miss-er/ He confused a smirk for a scowl, fear for friendliness, a grin for a grimace. He was a socially inept kissermisser. Etymology: kisser + miss Created by: Stevenson0.

Misinterpotato: /miss-in-tur-pah-tay-toe/ My boss is one of those people who has a permanent grin affixed to his face, which is why I always find myself in hot water for committing misinterpotato. Etymology: misinterpret, potato (slang for head), Mr. Potato Head (a toy with easily discernable facial expressions) Created by: purpleartichokes.

Bemuggled: /bee-mug-uld/ Jill was bemuggled by Dave’s smile. Was he laughing with her, or at her? Etymology: befuddled, mug Created by: toadstool57.

To see more verboticisms for this definition go to:
https://www.verbotomy.com/verboticisms.php?jid=smile

Be Creative,

James

www.verbotomy.com
the create-a-word game

Yeah, I do have a lot of online friends.

DEFINITION: To be so immersed in a virtual world that you forget about your responsibilities to the physical world — like your job, your family, or even feeding and washing yourself.

Yeah, I do have a lot of online friends.

VERBOTICISMS: (Invented words created by the Verbotomy Writers)

Gonline: /gone-line/ James realized that he was going to have to wash his own socks because Judy was gonline again. Etymology: gone (as in not here) + on-line Created by: pinwheel.

Avatarded: /Ahv-ah-tar-ded/ His aparment was a wreck – food strewn about the floor in a semi-intelligent arc tracing from the door to the computer. And the place REEKED. Johan wondered if Mike could be… avatarded. Etymology: Avatar + retarded Created by: verysimplegame.

E mersed: /E-mersed/ She is totally E-mersed within her own little world from her home to any ‘Hot Spot’ cafe. Etymology: E (electronic) + immersed Created by: Stevenson0.

Hypnetized: /hip-net-ized/ Bob got hypnetized by Youtube for 8 hours straight. Later, his wife had to use WD40 to peel his butt from the vinyl chair. Etymology: hypnotized, net Created by: purpleartichokes.

To see more verboticisms for this definition go to:
https://www.verbotomy.com/verboticisms.php?jid=anda

Be Creative,

James

www.verbotomy.com
the create-a-word game

Verbotoweek: The Cup of Verbotomy, Part Deux

Purpleartichokes Wins The Second Verbotomy Cup!

Congratulations to purpleartichokes for winning this week’s Verbotomy and the second Verbotomy Cup. The questions is: Will she choose one of her own words to have imprinted on her mug, or one of the many brilliant words from our other sharp witted verbotomists?

See the final results here:
https://www.verbotomy.com/verbotomists.php?week=2007-04-30

Verbotoweek in a short summarized version

Verbotomy was a cruel taskmasker this week forcing all of us to refretish our thoughts like crazed workastallics running around in a vehiciouscircle. To circumnearthegate the cyclick exertsham of nyetworking, we played micehockey in an attempt at slackofflage. This quickly developed into an addclicktion and we began to moccupy our days in ecstickit escaptasy of funemployment encouraged by the libertrim and parkingsloth in our midst. The week ended with most of us doing a deliverdance in anticipation for the weekend, getting off the carouselect of managingdelector. Hopefully, the refreshology effect of the days off will enable us to appreciate the clixation of our exertsham and we can cruisepatrol into next week mcmoshing with eagerness.

Top five verboticisms of the week:

  1. taskmasker Created by: purpleartichokes
  2. refretish Created by: galwaywegian
  3. workastallic Created by: Jabberwocky
  4. funemployment Created by: Alchemist
  5. clixation Created by: ohwtepph

The chit-chatty gets catty:

Here’s a little chit-chat about our cross-shaving wampeter on May 2nd:

Verbotomy – 2007-05-02: 01:27:00
Today’s definition was suggested by Bulletchewer.
Thank you Bulletchewer! ~ James

mplsbohemian – 2007-05-02: 10:58:00
That picture is so disturbing on so many levels.

mplsbohemian – 2007-05-02: 11:01:00
Um, oy, that must have come off so transphobic. :\

Verbotomy – 2007-05-02: 11:11:00
About the picture… I have received a suggestion that this young lady’s allegiances are less than clear, so I have prepared an alternative portrait. Please see: Being Clear About our Allegiances. Thanks ~ James

Jabberwocky – 2007-05-02: 12:59:00
Yikes!! the options are even more disturbing – pretty soon she’ll look like Chewbacca

purpleartichokes – 2007-05-02: 13:26:00
OMG! It’s an American Hairwolf in Toondon! (Or perhaps she has a hairmone problem.)

wordmeister – 2007-05-02: 16:30:00
Chewytobacca? I wonder what JediJawa thinks of that?

Bulletchewer – 2007-05-02: 16:45:00
Always love stirring up debate, but credit’s due the artist. For some strange reason forgotten in a dream, I only ever thought of this definition applying to the male of the species…

wordmeister – 2007-05-02: 17:26:00
It appears as if this wampeter definitely needs a waxing!

Read a beard full of verboticisms here and see James alternative pictures at Being Clear About our Allegiances.

Not a loss for words, just missed a few votes

These words didn’t get many votes because some of you vote at 05:00 am EST before you even see some of the better words. If you held off you could have voted for one of these great words, in my humble opinion of course!!!

Your bumbling bobserver,

Weeklink