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'Let me hold the door for you...'

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.

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Verboticisms

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You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.

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)

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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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Doomerang

artr

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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Magnanimistake

petaj

Created by: petaj

Pronunciation: magnanimous-take

Sentence: Sir Galahazard sprawled clumsily under the portcullis after tripping over his sword in his hurry to bow as low as he could. His reputation for magnanimistakes travelled before him so there was a first aid officer on hand to receive him.

Etymology: magnanimous, revealing generosity or nobility + mistake, an error or fault (Galahad, known for his chivalry + galah, a term of endearment in Australia for a fool named after a type of parrot + hazard, a danger)

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COMMENTS:

A knight in shining harmour - Jabberwocky, 2007-10-26: 12:08:00

petaj The only health insurance available was through MEDI-e-val. Which was unfortunate because Galahazard was there to crown the king. But if there was any danger to the king there were plenty of guards armed with mace to subdue his overexcitable gallantry. Guinefear had become very cautious around him. - petaj, 2007-10-27: 02:09:00

The noble knight seems a little odd but very obliging. Nice word! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-10-28: 02:42:00

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Ineptsuavitis

Created by: mryder

Pronunciation: in-ept / swah-ve / itis

Sentence: Billy would have loved to open the door for the pretty girl; however his ineptsuavitis set in and he ended up getting himself trapped in the door.

Etymology: inept-ORIGIN originally in the sense unsuitable: from Latin ineptus, from in- ‘not’ + aptus ‘fitted. Suave-ORIGIN Latin suavis ‘agreeable’ itis (suffix)— ORIGIN from Greek -ites

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Genteelgaffe

Created by: thebaron

Pronunciation:

Sentence: If it wasn't for his genteelgaffe, she might have spoken to him.

Etymology:

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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

MrDave2176 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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Chivalwreck

Created by: QuantumMechanic

Pronunciation: shi val rek

Sentence: I tried to help the old lady across the street, but I was a complete chivalwreck when I got my foot run over, and she dropped her groceries.

Etymology: Chivalry + Wreck

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Kindmiss

Created by: tumblebehr

Pronunciation: kind miss

Sentence: His kindmiss tends to dis attract women.

Etymology:

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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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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-10-26: 00:30:00
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn! ~ James

petaj petaj - 2007-10-26: 04:21:00
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...

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-10-26: 10:05:00
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!!!

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-10-26: 17:46:00
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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-02-23: 00:10:00
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn. ~ James