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.
Doomerang
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: doōmərang
Sentence: Wendel tried once again to do the gracious thing. As he attempted to help an older woman carry a heavy bag of groceries to her car only to trip and scatter the contents across the pavement. He would have stayed and helped her clean up the mess but she seemed much more intent on beating him with her cane than retrieving her broken eggs. Once again he found himself to be an expert at creating doomerangs, those deeds that always find a way to come back and boot you in the seat.
Etymology: doom (death, destruction, or some other terrible fate) + boomerang (a curved flat piece of wood that can be thrown so as to return to the thrower)
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COMMENTS:
great sentence - bookowl, 2008-09-24: 13:44:00
Nice word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-09-25: 18:21:00
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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: urbane + Mr. Bean
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COMMENTS:
Would never have thought to go down the Mr. Bean road. Great word! - purpleartichokes, 2007-10-26: 19:01:00
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Gomeresqe
Created by: svnfsvn
Pronunciation: based on gomer/homer
Sentence: I appeared gomeresge when my pants ripped during changing tire on freeway.
Etymology:
Chivalrust
Created by: Kyoti
Pronunciation: Shiv-all-ruhst
Sentence: Barry's attempt to impress Deanna by juggling chocolate Valentine's hearts not only failed to ignite her interest, but underscored how deeply he suffered from chronic chivalrust.
Etymology: Chivalrous: gallant gesturing + rust: worn from misuse or lack of use.
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)
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)
Benefracture
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: ben-uh-FRAK-cher
Sentence: Roxie was a tender-hearted tryplease, who sincerely shambled her way through life. And though her intentions remained pure and noble, her saintretemps and benefractures were often plain scary. In the end, to kin and kith alike, she became a must-to-avoid.
Etymology: Benefracture: blend of benefactor & fracture - " when good intentions comes apart or unstuck." Saintretemps: blend of saint & contretemps-"hitch"
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COMMENTS:
Sweet word OZZIEBOB! You long time-verbotomists are really creative with your words. For me, its hard to stay away from the thesaurus! - Kevcom, 2007-10-28: 00:23:00
I did this one time -- A female coworker dropped a paper by the printer and, trying to be gentlemanly, I quickly bent down to grab it (as she was also) and 'benefractured' her glasses. :/ - Tigger, 2007-11-06: 17:41:00
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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
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COMMENTS:
Very clever - OZZIEBOB, 2008-09-25: 18:22:00
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Shrivalry
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: sh riv al ree
Sentence: His attempt at chivalry quickly turned into shrivalry as the revolving crushed his pride and other more sentitive bits
Etymology: chivalry, shrivel
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COMMENTS:
ouch! - very funny - Jabberwocky, 2008-09-24: 13:15:00
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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