Vote for the best verboticism.

'Honey, are you awake?'

DEFINITION: n. An idea that pops into your head just before you fall asleep, which is so big and brilliant, or else so dark and scary, that it keeps you awake all night long. v. To lie awake in bed with a head full of big dreams.

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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.

Insomnicept

Created by: iceninexp

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Sleepdeprivision

Created by: purpleartichokes

Pronunciation: sleep-deh-preh-vih-zhun

Sentence: Last night I had a sleepdeprivision. Today, I am groggily wondering why I thought it was feasible to set up a full-scale hydroponic artichoke growing system in my basement.

Etymology: sleep deprivation, vision

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COMMENTS:

petaj I can't decide if your artichoke cultivation is big and brilliant (like the lighting system required to run such a thing) or dark and scary (there's got to be a reason why basements figure so boldly in murder movies) - petaj, 2007-04-09: 04:58:00

petaj Oh and nice work with sleep deprivation. I went down that path, but no lightbulb moment on fitting in the idea bit. - petaj, 2007-04-09: 05:00:00

The lighting system did throw me a curve, as did where I would relocate my washer, dryer, furnace, and resident spiders. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 05:59:00

knew right away it was your word - very clever - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-09: 12:59:00

Wow, I didn't realize I was that verbobvious. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 14:10:00

That has a nice ring to it. - jedijawa, 2007-04-09: 23:58:00

hydropon my word! - galwaywegian, 2007-04-10: 05:17:00

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Snoozeflash

Created by: Koekbroer

Pronunciation: snooz-flash

Sentence: Rachel was just about to drop off when she had a sudden snoozeflash which woke her up and sent her mind racing for the rest of the night.

Etymology: "snooze", as in sleep and "flash" from "newsflash"

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Bedspiration

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: bed-spi-ray-shun

Sentence: Clair's bedspiration helped her to finally finish her second symphony. All she had to do was move the piano into the bedroom and move Gustav out of it since there wasn't room for both him and the piano.

Etymology: bed + bedspread + inspiration: sudden creative act or idea; stimulation of the mind or feelings to special activity or creativity

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COMMENTS:

artr Bedspiration can be hard on matressimony. - artr, 2009-10-26: 14:47:00

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Revigilation

Created by: ErWenn

Pronunciation: /ɹəˌvɪdʒəˈleɪʃən/̩

Sentence: Sometimes my revigilations seem truly deep, and sometimes I stay awake at nights wondering if "procrasticap" is funnier than "apathetes' heel".

Etymology: From revelation + vigil

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COMMENTS:

petaj Sounds like supervising exam candidates over and over - that would keep one awake at night too. - petaj, 2007-04-09: 04:48:00

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Eyeswideopener

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: eyes/wyde/open/ur

Sentence: Just as I was falling asleep I was struck with an eyeswideopener, one of those ridiculous brainstorms that fade with the morning light, unlike my eyes which remain red all week

Etymology: eye opener (shocking revelation) + wide open

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Branake

Created by: Tanik

Pronunciation: BrAn-Ak

Sentence: She was up all night with a serious case of branake. She just couldn't shake the thought of Bob with Sally.

Etymology: brain + awake

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Nightbulb

Created by: wordmeister

Pronunciation: nite-bulb

Sentence: Roger had a nightbulb so dark and brilliant that he couldn't sleep for week. Finally, his wife pulled the plug on the idea, and he rested...

Etymology: night + lightbulb

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COMMENTS:

Good one! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 09:49:00

Strangely enough, I couldn't sleep last night, so this one was easy. - wordmeister, 2007-04-09: 11:45:00

appropriate for spring planting - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-09: 12:19:00

This should win. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-09: 15:39:00

re: spring planting -- Yes, blooming deep shade tulips - wordmeister, 2007-04-09: 18:20:00

I like the mental image that goes with that one! - jedijawa, 2007-04-09: 23:51:00

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Pilloetic

CharlieB

Created by: CharlieB

Pronunciation: pill-oh-et-ik

Sentence: At night Roy’s haikus Keep him and his wife awake: He’s pilloetic.

Etymology: pillow (a cloth case used to support the head) + poetic (of or relating to poetry)

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Thoughtywink

petaj

Created by: petaj

Pronunciation: th-or-tee-wink

Sentence: Being a particularly creative type, Michelangelo was prone to thoughtywinks which allowed him only very light sleep for extremely short periods. He longed for a solid night of deep sleep.

Etymology: thought (mental process that generates ideas) + forty winks (a short light nap)

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COMMENTS:

Almost as good as "thoughtdiscount". Gets a vote. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-09: 05:27:00

Cute word! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 06:00:00

Also sounds like "naughty winks" -- gets my vote. - wordmeister, 2007-04-09: 23:05:00

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-09: 00:03:00
Thank you to Dan Pink for sponsoring this week's Right-Brain Verbotomy Contest and creativity prize. ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-09: 11:29:00
What happened last week? Read Verbotoweek! A look back at last week's wickedest words and funniest comments... Edited by "Weeklink", one of our top players who from some reason, perhaps self-preservation, prefers to remain anonymous! See: Verbotoweek in the Verbotomy Blog.

Bulletchewer - 2007-04-09: 15:52:00
Wonder if this happened to Thomas Edison. Oh, and in a related piece of propaganda, vote for Wordmeister's "Nightbulb"! PS Great (if slightly embarrassing) blog!

wordmeister - 2007-04-09: 18:04:00
Hey Bulletchewer, Thanks for the vote of support! I guess I managed to skip through my own premonstermare without getting trampled...

Bulletchewer - 2007-04-09: 18:37:00
Just wondering if anyone else is ineligible for this week's contest. Who's up for a Sir Geoffrey?

toadstool57 - 2007-04-09: 21:34:00
James - cool that you spotlighted CFLs.

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-10: 00:07:00
Thanks toadstool57. We're just trying to create some environmentally friendly ideas. ~ James

OZZIEBOB - 2008-06-21: 19:35:00
Excellent.

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-26: 02:14:00
Today's definition was suggested by wordmeister. Thank you wordmeister. ~ James