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.
Nightware
Created by: Alchemist
Pronunciation: NITE-ware
Sentence: I was up all last night with the the craziest nightware...what if there was some kind of global supercomputer where anyone could look up any kind of knowledge?
Etymology: nightmare, aware
Thoughtmare
Created by: jedijawa
Pronunciation: thawt-mare
Sentence: Jill couldn't get to sleep because a thoughtmare was keeping her mind working too fast to get any rest.
Etymology: thought + nightmare
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Another great word! - Stevenson0, 2007-04-09: 20:48:00
I like the sound of this word, though I want to use it for the sorts of nonsensically horrifying idea-dreams that run through my head when I'm asleep enough to dream, but awake enough to know that the ideas don't make sense. - ErWenn, 2007-04-09: 22:47:00
----------------------------
Nocturtrance
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: nok-ter-trance
Sentence: She kept her blackberry under her pillow on this night so she could record her nocturtrances.
Etymology: nocturnal + trance
Ahawake
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: ähäwāk
Sentence: The revelation that Julia had just as she was about to doze off kept her ahawake all night. It only took her 18 years and a chance encounter on Facebook but she now was certain she knew who her real father was and why her mother kept it secret.
Etymology: aha (used to express satisfaction, triumph, or surprise) + awake (not asleep)
Drainstorm
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: DRANE-storm
Sentence: Once again Filbert arose from his bed in the morning thoroughly exhausted from another long bout with a monstrous drainstorm....a flood of ideas that kept him awake and left him drained.
Etymology: Blend of the words 'drain' and 'storm' and a play on the word 'brainstorm.
Thoughtywink
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)
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Sounds like supervising exam candidates over and over - that would keep one awake at night too. - petaj, 2007-04-09: 04:48:00
----------------------------
Restlessception
Created by: moltentim
Pronunciation: rest/less/sep/shun
Sentence: Bob had a restlessception and couldn't fall asleep for the rest of the night.
Etymology: restless + conception (idea)
Fortythinks
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: for/tee/th/inks
Sentence: He was restless, sleep deprived and in the state of fortythinks, filled with the brilliant ideas on how he was going to become a partner in the firm at 29 years of age.
Etymology: fortywinks + thinks
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
clever - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-09: 12:16:00
Very clever indeed. - ErWenn, 2007-04-09: 22:47:00
Oh, that's so very clever. - jedijawa, 2007-04-09: 23:46:00
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
dreamy word - Nosila, 2009-10-27: 01:34:00
----------------------------
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