Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n., A gallant gesture which does not produce the desired effect because of poor execution. v., To offer a small gesture of assistance, which backfires as you trip over your own kind intentions.
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.
Adversassisty
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: ad/vurs/assist/ee
Sentence: My well meaning offer of assistance quickly turned into an adversassisty as I slipped on the ice trying to help an elderly lady across the street. She fractured her hip and I bruised my ego.
Etymology: assist + Adverse (harmful, injurious) + adversity (mishap, misfortune)
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COMMENTS:
Ha Ha! I'd bruise my ego and shatter my own hip as well. - zxvasdf, 2008-09-24: 19:25:00
I like it:flows nicely. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-09-25: 18:19:00
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Urbean
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: ur/bean
Sentence: John's attempt to be urbane, chivalrous, courteous, polite and just plain well-mannered became urbean when his head got jammed in the doorway helping a damsel in distress.
Etymology: URBEAN - noun - from URBANE (polite, refined and often elegant in manner) + MR. BEAN
Missistance
Created by: mustkeepsanity
Pronunciation: mis-sis-tans
Sentence: When Cindy dropped her pencil Fred bent down to pick it up for her. The problem was that Cindy also bent to get it, and Fred ended up headbutting her in the nose. He's since learned not to offer his missistance to others.
Etymology: miss+assistance miss (To fail to accomplish or achieve) assistance (Aid, help)
Benevoloser
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: bənevəloōzər
Sentence: Despite his illusions, Charley is a benevoloser. When Cindy broke up with her boyfriend he envisioned himself as her knight in shining armor. He had her over for a gourmet meal where he started by spilling wine on her and ended by tripping and knocking her off her chair. Instead of sweeping her off her feet and winning her heart, he knocked her to the floor and sat on her spleen.
Etymology: benevolent (well meaning and kindly) + loser (failure)
Hurteous
Created by: bzav1
Pronunciation: rhymes with courteous
Sentence: Jeff's clumsy attempts to avoid the impedestrian, led to several hurteous acts. He had no intention of being nonsiderate.
Etymology: impedestrian - one that walks very slowly down the middle of the sidewalk nonsiderate - antonym for considerate
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COMMENTS:
good one! - remistram, 2007-10-26: 09:22:00
This is a good word...sounds like it feels. - MrDave2176, 2007-10-26: 13:06:00
way to times 'er by 3! - Kevcom, 2007-10-28: 17:20:00
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Misstention
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: miss ten shun
Sentence: Leonard always meant well, but in his hurry to impress the fairer sex, his good deeds turned into the misstention kind. His awkward attempts at basic gallantry often came back to bite him. For instance, he tried to impress Mary Jane, the cute new receptionist by holding the revolving door open, only to get his head caught in it. Then when they got up to the office, he leaned on the wall to talk to her and set off the fire alarm. The final misstention was when he bought her a nice hot latte and accidently spilled it all over her new dress, computer keyboard and important report the boss was waiting on. Yes, sometimes the road to Hell is indeed paved with misstentions...
Etymology: Miss (fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind;fail to reach or get to) & Intention (an act of intending; a volition that you intend to carry out;an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions)
Beaujest
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: bo/jest
Sentence: My beau geste quickly turned into a beaujest as I slipped on the ice trying to help an elderly lady across the street. She fractured her hip and I bruised my ego.
Etymology: beau geste (gracious gesture) + jest
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COMMENTS:
Clever! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-10-28: 02:28:00
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Chivalshamble
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: SHIV-uhl-SHAM-buhl
Sentence: Although Bob's intentions were pure and noble, his decision making processes never achieved the right balance between good-deeding and gormlesting. With his benefracture legendary, he was a sort of goldibollocks: beneflummoxy at best; altroublistic ad naseum, and a bothersome boo-boo-gooder chivalshambling through life.
Etymology: Blend of CHIVAL: courtesy and good deed towards others, esp women & SHAMBLE: A scene or state of much disorder or ruin.
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COMMENTS:
another great sentence - Jabberwocky, 2008-09-24: 13:17:00
A veritable Bobblehead. Excellent word, great sentence. - Mustang, 2008-09-25: 00:00:00
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Jestugh
Created by: TJayzz
Pronunciation: Jess-t-ure
Sentence: Harry had fancied Suzie for ages, so when he saw that she was having troube starting her car he swiftly offered to help. He began push the car and soon got it going , unfortunately he pushed so hard that he fell over and landed headfirst in a muddy puddle. As he stood up all he could here was Suzie's hysterical laughter, it was a good thing that his face was covered in mud so that she could not see his embarrassment.
Etymology: Jest(Joke)+ Ugh(an exclamation of horror) = Jestugh (play on gesture)
Failgesture
Created by: Kevicky50
Pronunciation:
Sentence: Harold tried to get close to Jessica by carrying her bags, but the failgesture only ended in breakage.
Etymology:
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn! ~ James
After you. No after you. No after you. No after yooooooeeeeouwwww!
Kevcom - 2007-10-26: 07:38:00
Awesome cartoon James! That is so funny - I was almost dyin' of laughter of the expression on the guys face...
Thanks to Kevcom and Petaj for your hurteous thoughts and magnanimistakian clobbergestures ~ James
Lidipop - 2007-10-26: 10:19:00
I actually printed this one out...it's so good, well done!!!
We must not forget to thank ErWenn again for his generous courteslip. ~ James
purpleartichokes - 2007-10-26: 18:57:00
Yes, thank you ErWenn and James. Fabulous contributions from you two!
yellowbird - 2008-09-24: 11:49:00
Haven't we seen this definition before?
petaj - 2008-09-26: 04:19:00
Yep - looking forward to some new ones
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn. ~ James