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
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
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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Snoozepiration
Created by: CanMon
Pronunciation:
Sentence: As I settled comfortably beneath my covers, snoozepiration hit and I found myself jumping out of bed to get back to work.
Etymology: Combination of Snooze and Inspiration.
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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Hypneureka
Created by: Crabtime
Pronunciation: Hip-nyur-EE-kah
Sentence: His coffee couldn't keep him awake--his hypneureka last night on the nature of caffiene made even his favorite drink unpalatable.
Etymology: Hypny- From Hypnos, Greek god of sleep Eureka- What Archimedes said when he leapt out of the bath, upon a discovery. Means "I have found it" or "This bath is too hot" in greek.
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
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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
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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)
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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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