Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v., To read a person's face and interpret what they are actually thinking, even if they are trying to conceal their true feelings. n., The skill of reading people's faces, especially micro-expressions.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
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Mugnacious
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: məgnāshəs
Sentence: The more Jason sat in the traffic jam the more mugnacious he became. Nobody had any trouble telling how he felt.
Etymology: mug (face) + pugnacious (having the appearance of a willing fighter)
Rosettaface
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: rōˈzetə fās
Sentence: Crystal could never keep a secret. She had a real rosettaface. If there was a thought or emotion within her being, it was expressed on her face like a neon sign. Much as she might try she could not conceal her feelings. Even her goldfish had her pegged.
Etymology: Rosetta Stone (a key to some previously undecipherable mystery) + Face (the front part of a person's head from the forehead to the chin)
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COMMENTS:
Wonderfully arcane reference! Top-notch word! - metrohumanx, 2008-10-16: 06:04:00
another goodie artr - Jabberwocky, 2008-10-16: 15:59:00
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Tellepathy
Created by: MrDave2176
Pronunciation: tel-EHP-ath-ee
Sentence: Maria's tellepathy was uncanny. She correctly read the disappointment on her son's face at his bag lunch options, and picked up on her husband's stress at his upcoming meeting. She tossed a candy bar into her son's lunch and spent a few extra seconds hugging her husband at the door to make things smoother.
Etymology: tell (the small nuances of behavior that poker players read in games) + (tel)epathy
Faceseelity
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: face/see/li/tee
Sentence: She had an uncanny faceseelity which made her everyone's favourite waitress. When you ordered the fruit salad she knew you really wanted the hot fudge sundae.
Etymology: face + see + facility
Facerism
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: feys/er/iz/uhm
Sentence: By studying her facial reaction to every word and movement and observing all her idiosyncrasies from eye to nose to chin to cheeks, he could read and interpret correctly each and every facerism she displayed.
Etymology: FACERISM - noun - from FACE (an expression, or look ) + MANNERISM (affected style, or habit in speech, or facial expressions)
Visageonary
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: vis aj on ar ee
Sentence: Sandra could read Mike's face like a book. She knew him so well now, thast he knew better than to try and lie to him. Yes, she was a visageonary, but too bad Mike was not. He was the last to find out when she ran off with his best friend, Pete...because she had been able to read the signals Pete was sending her!
Etymology: Visage (the appearance conveyed by a person's face) & Visionary (a person with unusual powers of foresight)
Demeanoreader
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: de-MEEN-ehr-reed-ehr
Sentence: Donny was a gifted demeanoreader, able to tell at a glance from their body language and facial expressions just what others were thinking and feeling.
Etymology: Blend of 'demeanor' (outward manner) and 'reader' (one who reads or is reading)
Facecracker
Created by: bzav1
Pronunciation: face + cracker
Sentence: There was no use lying to mom. Her skills as a facecracker were beyond compare.
Etymology: like a safe cracker - every great team of bankrobbers needs one
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COMMENTS:
Great word! - purpleartichokes, 2007-11-19: 09:58:00
very nice - yellowbird, 2007-11-19: 10:27:00
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Headthought
Created by: jkernen1
Pronunciation:
Sentence: I had to take a quick headthought before I knew what her eyes were telling me.
Etymology: headshot + thought
Ekman
Created by: CDH167
Pronunciation: eck man
Sentence: I thought I could lie with a straight face, but when I got home, my wife totally ekmanned me.
Etymology: From Paul Ekman, the psychologist who discovered microexpressions.
Comments:
Verbotomy - 2007-11-19: 00:01:00
Today's definition was suggested by aigle101. Thank you aigle101! ~ James
Verbotomy - 2007-11-19: 00:02:00
If you are interested in learning more about face reading and micro-expressions, check out The Naked Face. It's an article written by Malcolm Gladwell which originally appeared New Yorker magazine. ~ James
metrohumanx - 2008-10-16: 06:24:00
Clairvoyant wins lottery for second time!
artr - 2008-10-16: 19:13:00
Nobody ever really wants the fruit salad.:-)
Verbotomy - 2010-03-12: 00:34:00
Today's definition was suggested by aigle101. Thank you aigle101. ~ James