Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A wayward scent or aroma which invokes distant memories of one's childhood or younger days. v. To be suddenly catapulted into the past by a very strong odor.
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.
Reminiscent
Created by: Negatrev
Pronunciation: rem-uh-nis-uhnt
Sentence: The bakery made bob reminiscent over his mothers baking as a child.
Etymology: reminiscent(awakening memories of something similar; suggestive (usually followed by of ): His style of writing is reminiscent of Melville's.) AND scent (to perceive or recognize by or as if by the sense of smell: to scent trouble.)
Melancholfactory
Created by: kalex
Pronunciation: Me-lin-kol-fa-k-ter-eee
Sentence: The smell had a melancholfactory essence, subtly reminding me of years before, when Jack and I had also caught ourselves on fire. Burnt flesh! That brings it all back!
Etymology: melancholy-a forlorn feeling sometimes associated with nostalgia olfactory-having to do with or of the sense of smell, odor
Retrostench
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: re-tro-stench
Sentence: Wandering through the empty bingo hall, Jean soon became aware of a retrostench that was clearly that of an old lady marinated in Lilly of the Valley toilet water perfume. "It couldn't be," she thought, "Grandma's been dead for 20 years."
Etymology: Retro--involving, relating to or reminicent of things past Stench--an offensive smell or odor
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COMMENTS:
super word - Jabberwocky, 2009-03-23: 12:25:00
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Whiffersnapper
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: wiff-a-snap-a
Sentence: Mmmm! there's something about the whiffersnapper of packaging materials, that takes me right back to the Christmas parcel Grandma used to send us half way around the world.
Etymology: whiff (scent) + whippersnaper (youth)
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COMMENTS:
love it! - Jabberwocky, 2009-03-23: 12:30:00
Whiffersnapper conjures up the crackle of the enlightening smell in the air! Wheffervescent! - silveryaspen, 2009-03-23: 14:02:00
Enjoyed it...whiff love! - Nosila, 2009-03-23: 23:05:00
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Reminessence
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: rem in ess sens
Sentence: Howard was completing the Circle of Life. He had started out as a baby, grew through childhood to adulthood and now as a senior was regressing back to needing the care one gives an infant. His wife Margery tended his needs and the odors of caring for another human took her back to her own child-rearing years: the feedings, the changings, the bathing and looking after an increasingly helpless person. Sometimes the scent of adult diapers were reminessence of those she had put on her own children. The scent took her back to a time when she and Howard had worked hard and enjoyed the rewards of a growing family. Who says you cannot go back again? Margery did it every day now...
Etymology: Reminiscence (a mental impression retained and recalled from the past;the process of remembering (especially the process of recovering information by mental effort) & Essence (a toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor)
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COMMENTS:
like it - galwaywegian, 2009-03-23: 11:07:00
You have captured that cradle-to-the-grave, circle of life, with reminissence. Powerful word! - silveryaspen, 2009-03-23: 13:47:00
Your word is beautiful - I didn't realize mine starts the same way (remin. from reminisce/reminiscence). - splendiction, 2009-03-23: 16:43:00
Captured perfectly! - kateinkorea, 2009-03-23: 23:34:00
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Rejujubevenated
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: ree/ju/jub/ee/ven/ay/ted
Sentence: Walking through a candy store and smelling the fresh jujubes instantly rejujubevenated me. Unfortunately it also resulted in pulling out a filling which brought back other childhood memories, not so sweet, of sitting in a dentist's chair.
Etymology: rejeuvenated + jujube
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COMMENTS:
I laughed out loud good one! I used to love those :) - abrakadeborah, 2009-03-23: 06:51:00
And the movies, a double feature, to go with them were about 25 cents! - readerwriter, 2009-03-23: 09:43:00
Captures the heart and sweetness of youth and childhood ... so very very good! - silveryaspen, 2009-03-23: 13:50:00
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Nostrilgia
Created by: BoltonAlan
Pronunciation:
Sentence:
Etymology:
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COMMENTS:
excellent - galwaywegian, 2010-10-05: 04:36:00
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Historeek
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: hisss tor eeeek
Sentence: the historeek led to hystereeks
Etymology: historic reek
Aroamance
Created by: readerwriter
Pronunciation: uh-roh-manse
Sentence: The smell of yellowed paper created such a strong aroamance in Paige, taking her to the lands, islands, stars and planets of her childhood, that she could hardly believe it when the propriator of Moldy Oldies, her favorite book shop, found her on the floor, and told her it was closing time.
Etymology: Using AROMA, meaning odor, scent + ROAM, meaning to wander, travel + ROMANCE, meaning, among other things, flight of fancy, allure, fascination
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COMMENTS:
old books - what a lovely memory - Jabberwocky, 2009-03-23: 12:24:00
Sweet sentence, etymology and word ... for the aroamance that delights us for as long as we live and read! Delightful verbotomy! - silveryaspen, 2009-03-23: 13:31:00
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Smelementary
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: smel-uh-men-tree
Sentence: When Larry watched his grandchildren for the weekend they had a great time doing an art project together. As he caught a whiff of crayons and white paste he had a true smelementary moment.
Etymology: smell (to perceive something by its odor or scent) + elementary (of or pertaining to an elementary school)
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by metrohumanx. Thank you metrohumanx. ~ James
silveryaspen - 2009-03-23: 14:34:00
The score details are a great enhancement and have helped me understand them. Thank you!
Wow! This phenomenon seems to be more widespread than i thought! Apparently it's one of our more primal instincts.
RE: Score Details. I am still looking for a bug where it fails to add some votes to our weekly totals. Hopefully the score details page will help us find it. ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by metrohumanx. Thank you metrohumanx. ~ James