Vote for the best verboticism.
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.
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.
Premonstermare
Created by: Bulletchewer
Pronunciation: pre-mun-stir-mayr
Sentence: Dennis Skinner's premonstermare of a plot to quietly poison and thus kill the terrifying legacy of his beloved Mrs Thatcher caused the beast to stir more than a junkie's coffee.
Etymology: From "pre-" meaning "before", "premonition" meaning "inappropriate and patronizing", "monster" meaning "Mrs Thatcher" and "mare" meaning "Mrs Thatcher/old, barely-female horse".
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COMMENTS:
Huh? premonition - inappropriate and patronizing. Some subtlety there I just can't see - maybe a Dennis Skinner quote? - petaj, 2007-04-09: 07:18:00
A dream that occurs right before PMS. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 14:50:00
Premonition doesn't fit here, hence inappropriate. The fact I explain "pre-" is patronizing. Contrived as ever. No Skinner quote, just nods at "the Beast of Bolsover", as he is affectionately known. But if you're looking for references, did you get all/any of the Zeppelin refs for my word "gallowsbeaver"? - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-09: 15:44:00
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Entreprenopeneyed
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: on te pren owe pen eyed
Sentence: he lay entreprenopeneyed, replaying marketing pitches for his ear divot pillows.
Etymology: entrepreneur, open eyed.
Nighdea
Created by: LankyJane
Pronunciation: [nye DEAR]/[nye DEE uh]
Sentence: I got no sleep last night, all because of this one bright nighdea.
Etymology: From "night" and "idea". The kind of idea that only comes to you late at night, particularly when you're almost asleep.
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COMMENTS:
Perfect! - lumina, 2008-06-20: 09:56:00
like it - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:07:00
good one - Nosila, 2008-06-21: 02:13:00
Very good. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:34:00
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Insomniapiphany
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: insämnēəpifənē
Sentence: After sitting up almost all night with what he thought was an insomniapiphany, John finally dozed off. When he woke up again he couldn’t remember the idea at all. The only thing he knows for sure is that work is going to be a beast today.
Etymology: insomnia (habitual sleeplessness; inability to sleep) + epiphany (a moment of sudden revelation or insight)
Ideapnea
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: ahy-dee-ap-NEE-uh
Sentence: Bob, a lateral-thinking, horror film addict, was woken a thousand times nightly by his ideapnea, including frightening bouts of zedlesspookia.
Etymology: IDEA: Thought, conception, notion & APNEA: a temporary suspension of breathing, occurring during sleep (sleep apnea)often waking the sufferer hundreds of times a night. With Bob it his crazy ideas that wake him up- ask Roxie.
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COMMENTS:
Wish I'd thought of it....great word! - Mustang, 2008-06-20: 06:10:00
great - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:06:00
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Presomnidea
Created by: WhiteRhino
Pronunciation: Pre-somb-nid-eya
Sentence: Morphine has been administered for acute Presomnidea and borderline Schizophrenia.
Etymology: Pre - before Somn - Sleep Idea - a thought or notion
Insomnobsession
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: in - som - nob - SESH - uhn
Sentence: Dewayne was experiencing yet another of his frequent bouts of insomnobsession, a plight that often befell him when his fertile imagination would trigger images of either exciting events or impending doom just at bedtime, and he knew it would be dawn before he fell asleep, if he slept at all.
Etymology: Blend of insomnia and obsession.
Idreamea
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: i - dreem - ee - ah
Sentence: Susanna had a brilliant idreamea last night. She thought of new strategies and ideas which came to her in an awake but dreamlike state.....borne out of exhaustion from not sleeping. This must be what happens when you are on the edge of insanity she thought.
Etymology: idea, dream
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COMMENTS:
dreamy word - Nosila, 2009-10-27: 01:34:00
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Nocturntoss
Created by: lauramy
Pronunciation: nok-tern-toss
Sentence: The thought of anchovies dipped in fudge sauce sent me into an all night fit of nocturntoss.
Etymology: nocturnal + turn + toss
Drowsiphany
Created by: zrotv
Pronunciation: drouz-ĭf'ə-nē
Sentence: My eyelids were weighted and thoughts diffused to nothingness as sleep was to take hold momentarily. Suddenly I had a drowsiphany. It was in that sedate state the the schematics for the flux-capacitor became clear as day.
Etymology: Drowse (To be half-asleep) + epiphany (A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.)
Comments:
Thank you to Dan Pink for sponsoring this week's Right-Brain Verbotomy Contest and creativity prize. ~ James
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.
Thanks toadstool57. We're just trying to create some environmentally friendly ideas. ~ James
OZZIEBOB - 2008-06-21: 19:35:00
Excellent.
Today's definition was suggested by wordmeister. Thank you wordmeister. ~ James