Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To be unable to remember the name of a person you are speaking to, even though you've had a long-standing, and perhaps even an intimate relationship. n. An inability to remember a person's name.
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.
Noniker
Created by: libertybelle
Pronunciation: non-ick-er
Sentence: Harry stumbled over a few nonikers before he remembered his brother's name was actually Rich. He had spent too many years calling him "Scooter", but that was not an appropriate title to introduce him as to the board of directors.
Etymology: non + moniker: name
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COMMENTS:
Nifty! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 09:42:00
Clever blend and funny sentence. - Tigger, 2008-03-04: 19:15:00
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Babylabeler
Created by: picabomama
Pronunciation: baby/label/er
Sentence: Aaron sounded fatherly and protective, but his wife knew that all the "honey", "sweetheart" & "baby" talk was really just a cover for his profound inability to remember a woman's name. He was a compulsive babylabeler.
Etymology: Baby- the most common name replacer + label
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COMMENTS:
I tried to come up with something along these lines, but buddyize, honeyify, and palform just don't roll off the tongue as well as babylabel. - ErWenn, 2008-03-04: 09:57:00
Wow! Sentence captures how annoying and offensive babylabelers are! Your word captures that feeling of being talked down to! Very apt creation! Simple but packs a wallop! Great create! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 10:15:00
Very true. Terms like mate, cobber, digger are often godsends for me! Unfortunately, Women's Lib has stamped out the use of luv, darl, etc. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-03-04: 19:38:00
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Aliauhm
Created by: jajsr
Pronunciation: Ale-lee-uh-m
Sentence: Rick was popular at work, and he spoke to everyone. But when asked if he knew the name of the new accountant in the finance department, Rick came up with all kinds of aliauhms.
Etymology: Combination of "Alia" from alias - an assumed or additional name; and "Uhm"
Redhandled
Created by: silveryaspen
Pronunciation: red-hand-dull-d
Sentence: "Hi, Frangelica. How's your dad?" said Jack Daniels, the bar owner. "Fine. He told me to tell you hi, too." she replied. "Did he sell his bar yet?" queried Jack. "Nah. Plenty want it, but they don't have the money, and can't get it." she explained. The guy on the next bar stool said. "Who's her dad, Jack? " Jack answered "Johnny Walker." The guy said, "I'm his son-in-law and I'd know if Johnny had a daughter. He never has mentioned a daughter. I, sure as heck, don't have a sister-in-law I don't know! I don't believe you two!" Jack said, "It's true. Go up to his bar and ask him?" All right I will!" He huffed out. Jack and Frangelica chuckled. Johnny had been married three times, and both of his second wives, had children by their first husbands, children Frangelica hadn't even met because they were all adults when their parents married each other. So this was one of their husband's, she figured. Jack said "That's Pernod, Zima's husband, your dad's third wife's youngest daughter, by her first husband." Frangelica shrugged and said, "Living out of state I don't know any of my stepsisters or stepbrothers, let alone their spouses! But it sure is a shock to think the stranger on the bar stool next to me could be my brother-in-law, and I've never laid eyes on him before. I didn't even recognize his name when you said it! I wouldn't even know his wife, my stepsister, if she sat next to me!" They chuckled again, as Jack said "Truth is always stranger than fiction!" Before Frangelica finished her liquor, Pernod was back, walking toward them. "Sure as shooting, you two were right! Johnny is still laughing at me so loud, I can here him clear from here! He told me, 'Of course, I have a daughter.' then grinned and said, 'what's the matter with you Pernod? Don't you and your wife know your own sister-in-law and stepsister?' When I stormed out to come back here, he was still laughing so hard, tears were coming out of his eyes!" He began shaking Frangelica's hand and said "Nice to meet you, sister." He went red with embarassment at being caught not knowing his sister-in-law's name. Feeling very redhandled, he asked. "What did you say your name was?"
Etymology: Red - embarrassed, Red-handed - caught in the midst of an embarrassing situation. Handle - 1) slang term for a name and 2) to cope
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COMMENTS:
silveryaspen, the theory of relativity is alive and well, I see! Good one. - Nosila, 2008-03-04: 01:08:00
somebody's been a bartender in another life - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-04: 13:08:00
Never been a bartender ... just the bar owner's daughter ... not above a drink in one once in awhile ... but they are really not a part of my life style! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 16:43:00
The above is actually a real incident from my life! Have you met, and do you know, all the names of your relatives related by marriage only? Think this is becoming more prevalent as mature people marry later in life ... to be honest ... even earlier in life ... where stepsiblings aren't raised in the same state ... let alone household! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 16:46:00
True life is always stranger and more interesting than real life! (wink)(big grin) - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 16:48:00
Dang ... typed one word for another again ... and didn't even realize it. Above comment should begin True FICTION is always stranger and more interesting than real life! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 17:27:00
Good word. The sentence made me think of some of my paternal relatives farflung through-out Australia. I have several cousins I have never met. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-03-04: 19:59:00
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Dejawho
Created by: brasstax82
Pronunciation: day-ja-who
Sentence: With a complete feeling of dread, Shawn was sure he new the person hugging him, but was coming down with a case of Dejawho.
Etymology: deja-vu: Felling of experiencing a situation previously before. Who- Common phrase used when seeing to properly identify an individual
Misshandle
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: mis/han/dell
Sentence: It is terribly embarrassing to me and greatly insulting to someone when I misshandle who they are.
Etymology: MISSHANDLE - verb - from MISS (the loss, or absence of something) + HANDLE (Slang: a person's name, someone's given name)
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COMMENTS:
A ver handy dandy word. - silveryaspen, 2008-12-29: 23:47:00
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Mementia
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: mēmenshə
Sentence: When Mike was little, his brother shot him in the ear with a BB gun. The pellet lodged in his brain in the tiny spot that normally stores names. Dr. Whitecoat’s term for his condition is mementia. He calls his wife, Mimi honey, sweetie, even ”Hey, Lady”. The only name he seems to be able to remember is his son, Me2.
Etymology: me (the name I call myself) + dementia (a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury)
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COMMENTS:
Memerable word - Nosila, 2010-05-13: 10:09:00
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Memoromission
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: mem - or - oh - miss - shun
Sentence: Plagued with a poor memory for names, Gilbert would often experience memoromission when encountering acquaintances.
Etymology: Mix of Memory and Omission
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COMMENTS:
Delightful mmmmmmm mmmmmm good alliteration! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 10:01:00
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Stnammer
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: stnam/ur
Sentence: A stnammer is a memory impediment that gets worse with age.
Etymology: stammer + name
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COMMENTS:
Captures it all! So apt! Stammer was a great choice for it conveys stnammering is a fluctuating, often temporary condition. Intuitively great. Outstanding! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 10:51:00
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Whomnesia
Created by: diyan627
Pronunciation: Hoom-nee'-ja
Sentence: When trying to reassure his date, Thad blamed his inability to remember her name on whomnesia, and he left out the fact that he brought a different girl out the night before to meet his friends.
Etymology: who + amnesia
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COMMENTS:
Thad with whomnesia could suffer a rash of whoneedsya! Whooooomneeeeeeeeejaaaaaaaaaa just kind of sing-songs over the tongue ... so fun to sing it out! Very nice creation! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-04: 16:53:00
Gezwhoomdeit!! Great verboticism - Mustang, 2008-03-04: 18:18:00
whoneedsya... hahaha! oh, that's brilliant! :D Thad is the 'victim' of whoneedsya, no doubt. - diyan627, 2008-03-07: 14:38:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by silveryaspen. Thank you silveryaspen. ~ James
silveryaspen - 2008-03-04: 17:07:00
Your great word associations and creations made my day, everyone. It is a pleasure to have these mind associations with all of you every day! Isn't this website like sunshine for the mind? !!! Everyone contributes some rays! Everyone goes away warmed by some rays!
silveryaspen - 2008-03-04: 17:08:00
Good job with the defninition and cartoon. Thank you, James.
Thank you Silveryaspen for the inspiring words! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by silveryaspen. Thank you silveryaspen. ~ James