Vote for the best verboticism.
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.
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.
Patricoddle
Created by: Sed8ed
Pronunciation: pa-tree-cod-el
Sentence: Joe found it easier to patricoddle the man who accosted him daily from the alley asking for two bits, rather than being rude and scaring him away.
Etymology: patri from patronize + coddle (to pamper, or whatever you like) = patricoddle
Fibassurance
Created by: SmoothP
Pronunciation: fib-uh-shoo-rants
Sentence: It was clear to the adults that Mr. Puddles hadn't gone to any "happy doggy farm", but the fibassurance seemed to satisfy little Tommy.
Etymology: From the latin "fibassi" meaning comfort, and "uranceum" meaning "to lie".
Simplifictionalize
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: simp - le - fik - shun - all - iz
Sentence: Since Sally couldn't quite explain the circumstances of her whereabouts, she decided to simplictionalize her story. She felt that it took out the complexity of the situation and put it into a scenario that was better understandable by her family.
Etymology: simplify, fictionalize
Sugarsatz
Created by: mplsbohemian
Pronunciation: SHOOG-ur-sats
Sentence: Alex realised that the president's speech about victory in the war and a glowing economy was just a pile of sugarsatz.
Etymology: sugar + ersatz (fake). The initial "sh" sound also calls to mind a certain four-letter word which often fits this definition, as well. Moreover, "sugarsatz" sounds vaguely Yiddish, from which American English derives many words that couldalsofitthebill.
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COMMENTS:
Heady ... I like that. - jedijawa, 2007-04-16: 12:54:00
Agree. I forgot what erstaz meant! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-16: 14:30:00
From above: ersatz (fake) - mplsbohemian, 2007-04-16: 15:24:00
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Elieixer
Created by: porsche
Pronunciation: ee/lye/ixur
Sentence: The elieixer of the day is that the TTC stands for "the better way". It actually stands for "take the car"
Etymology: elixir + lie
Benefib
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: ben/uh/fib
Sentence: To keep their spirits up and help them through the day to complete their tasks, the boss would often encourage his staff with a benefib or two.
Etymology: benefit + fib
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COMMENTS:
Dude, you come up with the best words without making them long and cumbersome. - jedijawa, 2007-04-16: 12:55:00
And people love voting for the obvious ones! ;) - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-16: 15:13:00
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Prevaricreation
Created by: karenanne
Pronunciation: pre VARE uh cree AY shun
Sentence: When Sara asked if she were ever going to have a baby brother or sister, her mother was ready for the question. She told Sara a little prevaricreation about how she was "so special that God only gives out one like you every once in a while." Well, actually, that was kind of true, if by "special" one meant "insufferable," "obnoxious," "time-sucking," and/or "über-bratty."
Etymology: prevarication (n.: a statement that deviates from the truth; a fib) + create
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COMMENTS:
Good one - Nosila, 2009-11-03: 01:09:00
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Totalloss
Created by: josje
Pronunciation: total loss
Sentence: my life my brain my body are all total loss
Etymology: total as in complete Loss as in lost
Blancamuse
Created by: theDoad
Pronunciation: blank-ah-mewze
Sentence: "I'm sorry, what did you say? I'm afraid I was blancamusing the whole scenario!"
Etymology:
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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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!
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James
RE: "Best Verbotoon Ever" Thanks ErWenn! However I must say it was all inspired by KV himself. So it goes... ~ James
See the top 4 words of the day at Yeah, I'm in heaven now ~ James
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
Today's definition was suggested by vonnegut. Thank you vonnegut. ~ James
Live it or live WITH it!