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.
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:
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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Eurekaffeine
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: you-ree-caff-een
Sentence: 3 nights in a row he suffered from such severe eurekaffeine that he felt like his brain may explode
Etymology: eureka! caffeine
Wiseawake
Created by: rebelvin
Pronunciation: WISE+AWAKE
Sentence: After working all day, I finally thought of the solution so perfect it kept me wiseawake all night.
Etymology: WISE+AWAKE
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COMMENTS:
Now why didn't I think of that one! Perfect! - lumina, 2008-06-21: 10:25:00
Good word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:36:00
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Fortythinks
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: for/tee/th/inks
Sentence: Joe was restless, sleep deprived, in and out of consciousness 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: FORTYTHINKS - noun - from FORTYWINKS (a short light sleep) + THINKS (as in thoughts, ideas)
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COMMENTS:
excellent word - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:05:00
Excelent. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:36:00
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Subcognitans
Created by: darkXshadow
Pronunciation: sub/kog/neet/ans
Sentence: one of my briliant subcognitans kept me up all night last night.
Etymology: sub coming from subito, meaning sudden. cogn coming from cognito, meaning knowledge. itans coming from suscitans, meaning awakening.
Sleepiphany
Created by: libertybelle
Pronunciation: sleep-pip-fan-knee
Sentence: It was clear to me that my husband's sleepiphany was going to be the cause of my insomnia as every time I began to drift off he would bring up another nuance of his idea.
Etymology: sleep + epiphany... not my best work but it's been a while!
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COMMENTS:
love it - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:08:00
nice! - TimTheEnchanter, 2008-06-20: 17:11:00
Like it a lot. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:37:00
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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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Idenia
Created by: chaok
Pronunciation: eye-dee-nee-uh
Sentence: I have to take pills to sleep, otherwise i would have an idenia and lose a night of sleep.
Etymology: idea + insomnia
Pilloetic
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)
Nightbulbmoment
Created by: lumina
Pronunciation: night/bulb/moment
Sentence: Joe didn't didn't get much sleep last night because his wife had another nightbulbmoment.
Etymology: Obvious isn't it? This was a hard one. :)
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COMMENTS:
I've had them,too! - Nosila, 2008-06-21: 02:14:00
Ilike it; great word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:32:00
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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