Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To have difficulty recognizing, and correctly interpreting, human facial expressions. n. A person who cannot read faces.
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.
Myopique
Created by: pinwheel
Pronunciation: my/op/eek
Sentence: George decided that Polly was totally myopique when she misinterpreted his grimace of horror after showing him the dress she intended to wear to the party.
Etymology: myopic (short-sighted) + pique (emotional excitement or irritation)
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COMMENTS:
probably left her in a myopickle. - galwaywegian, 2007-05-09: 06:50:00
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Misinterpotato
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: miss-in-tur-pah-tay-toe
Sentence: My boss is one of those people who has a permanent grin affixed to his face, which is why I always find myself in hot water for committing misinterpotato.
Etymology: misinterpret, potato (slang for head), Mr. Potato Head (a toy with easily discernable facial expressions)
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COMMENTS:
I like this one, too. Silly, but descriptive. - Clayton, 2007-05-09: 19:00:00
Thanks. I had words that would probably be better liked by the consensus, but this one looked like misterpotato(head). I love Mr. Potatohead! And I loved the way it sounded. Mis-in-ter-po-ta-to. It's benign and semi-comical (in my humble potato-head's opinion). - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-09: 20:14:00
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Physiognomuddle
Created by: Clayton
Pronunciation: fiz-ee-OG-nuh-MUHD-l
Sentence: Clarence's frequent physiognomuddling was only compounded by his wife's tic.
Etymology: physiognomy + muddle
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COMMENTS:
Had to run to the dictionary. Great word! - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-09: 06:49:00
Thanks a lot! I'm new to this game, but having a blast. - Clayton, 2007-05-09: 14:27:00
Welcome aboard, verbmatey! - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-09: 14:54:00
Thanks. Joined too late in the week to win anything, though. - Clayton, 2007-05-09: 14:56:00
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Oblivisage
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: obb liv is aaj
Sentence: he was so totally oblivisage to the opposite sex that he mistook that grimace and the gagging sound for interest, and started to bulk buy all the Brut after shave he could find.
Etymology: oblivious, visage
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COMMENTS:
Makes you sound smart when you say it! - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-09: 08:56:00
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Bemuggled
Created by: toadstool57
Pronunciation: bee-mug-uld
Sentence: Jill was bemuggled by Dave's smile. Was he laughing with her, or at her?
Etymology: befuddled, mug
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COMMENTS:
So is that why Harry Potter had such a hard time living with his Aunt and Uncle... he was bemuggled? - pinwheel, 2007-05-09: 11:11:00
funny! - Jabberwocky, 2007-05-09: 12:29:00
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Kissermisser
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: kiss/er/miss/er
Sentence: Joe confused a smirk for a scowl, fear for friendliness, a grin for a grimace. He was a socially inept kissermisser.
Etymology: KISSERMISSER - noun - from KISSER (an informal term for the human face) + MISS (to fail to perceive, or understand)
Afacia
Created by: mjmlabs
Pronunciation: uh-FAY-shuh
Sentence: Dan's got to be very careful when he goes out drinking; last weekend, his afacia almost got the two of us killed or arrested, I'm not sure which.
Etymology: Aphasia ("partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or written language, resulting from damage to the brain caused by injury or disease") + a cheap pun on "face"
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COMMENTS:
Well done! - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-09: 14:50:00
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Empaphy
Created by: mustilicor
Pronunciation:
Sentence: While most people eventually overcome their ignorance of other's discomfort, for some this utter empaphy lingers indefinitely.
Etymology: empathy pronounced with the lisp of a small child
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COMMENTS:
Very creative. I tend to just mash words together, which gets old after awhile. - purpleartichokes, 2007-05-09: 19:57:00
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Defacement
Created by: guesser
Pronunciation: De-Face-Ment
Sentence: After nobody showed up for her party, she realized she was guilty of defacement yet again.
Etymology:
Comments:
Today's definition was inspired by Cory Doctorow's short story "I, Row-Boat", where a sentient, and very sensitive Row-Boat has some difficulty reading a woman's facial expressions. See the full story in Overclocked. Thank you Cory! ~ James
MIENBLIND is very good- and far more cerebral than my entry. Good work, Ozziebob.
MaybeLater_x - 2008-08-19: 19:10:00
Visagenary is also a play on Imaginary, nay?
Today's definition was suggested by doctorow. Thank you doctorow. ~ James
ldikarev - 2012-09-06: 16:44:00
ldikarev - 2012-09-06: 16:45:00
Prosopagnosia -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopagnosia Prosopagnosia (Greek: "prosopon" = "face", "agnosia" = "not knowing") is a disorder of fa