Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To remain calm, steadfast and ploddingly systematic in the midst of a huge freaking disaster. n. A person who systematizes everything from their morning routines to personal relationships.
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.
Hystericool
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: /hi-STER-i-kool/
Sentence: The whole family was going on summer vacation again — to Disney World this year — with Jane, her husband, their five kids, her in-laws and two cousins. Every year, it was Jane's job to organize the family's packing and get everyone ready to rush to the airport as soon as Jack, her husband, got home from work; and Jack was always late. With screaming kids running all around her, Jane calmly walked through the house, grabbed Grandpa Joe's medicine, Jennie's retainer, James' Game-Boy and Jill's iPod, dropped them into the appropriate suitcases while snatching a flying T-shirt out of the air and packing that too. While chaos erupted around her, Jane remained hystericool. She didn't even sweat a drop when she and Jack rode the Space Mountain ride. As the ride stopped, Jack leaned over and gave 'his Coolamity Jane' a smile and a big kiss.
Etymology: Hysterical - behavior characterized by excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic (from Greek, hysterikos "of the womb, suffering in the womb") + Cool - not excited; calm, especially during times of stress (from Pre-Germanic, koluz "cold, to freeze")
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
HYSTERICOOL is beautiful- and obviously based on an all-too-real personal experience. Love it! - metrohumanx, 2008-07-10: 07:58:00
great word tigger - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-10: 09:33:00
Actually metro, I was thinking of the beginning of the movie 'Home Alone' and Catherine O'Hara's character when I wrote that. But anyone with that many kids to travel with ought to be a complete wreck, even if she does forget one... - Tigger, 2008-07-10: 10:54:00
I love it! And that "sentence!" We are all aspiring writers I think... :) Great read! - lumina, 2008-07-10: 18:43:00
Good one, Tigger...gives one hystericool laughter! - Nosila, 2008-07-10: 23:19:00
Another great word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-11: 18:24:00
----------------------------
Lifebot
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: lyf - bot
Sentence: Stanley behaved much like a lifebot. No matter what situation he found himself in, he acted predictably detached, calm and methodical; with no apparent emotion.
Etymology: life, robot
Freason
Created by: mishmish
Pronunciation:
Sentence: I get so excited when I'm in front of all these people, but she just freasons.
Etymology: Freeze + reason
Imperturbanate
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: im - per - TERB - uhn - ayt
Sentence: When suddenly faced with seemingly insurmountable difficulties Wilmont had the amazing capacity to remain absolutely cool and collected and to imperturbanate, while spreading his reassuring influence and give confidence to those about him.
Etymology: Based on the word imperturbable...(incapable of being upset or agitated; not easily excited; calm)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
IMPERTURBANATE is very creative and pronounceable- but i keep seeing a turban. - metrohumanx, 2008-07-10: 07:52:00
I see the turb as being the first part of turbulent which would work well - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-10: 09:39:00
----------------------------
Indexhaustive
Created by: CharlieB
Pronunciation: in-decks-orst-ive
Sentence: In the face of disaster, Sarah got tunnel vision. As her exasperated boyfriend pakced his suitcase to leave for a new life, she followed him round and indexhaustively rearranged the books he wasn't taking into alphabetical order.
Etymology: index (to put into order) + exhaustive (tiring out, draining) + ex (former partner or spouse)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
cute - Nosila, 2011-04-15: 11:30:00
----------------------------
Calmamity
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: kaam am ittee
Sentence: his calmamity in adversity was legendary, what a pity he was such a disappopintment in bed, thought Moneypenney
Etymology: calm calamity
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
great word - Jabberwocky, 2007-05-10: 12:17:00
Great concept! - jedijawa, 2007-05-11: 08:29:00
----------------------------
Panicstilled
Created by: Maureen
Pronunciation: pan-ic-stil-d
Sentence: "Darling come home quickly, the tree has fallen across the house, all the windows are broken and the dog is dead." Mark, ever the panicstiller, said "Don't worry sweeheart I'll pick up a spade on the way home so we can bury poor Charlie."
Etymology: Panic - a state of terror and Still - calm, tranquil.
Bluesbrothercool
Created by: jedijawa
Pronunciation: bloose-broth-her-cool
Sentence: Jack had a bluesbrothercool in how he dealt with things because even the greatest chaos didn't phase him.
Etymology: In the movie "The Blues Brothers" Jake and Elwood Blues were shot at, chased, blown up, threatened, and various other things while remaining calm and unflapable. They were the essence of bluesbrothercool.
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
I always just thought they were stoned - brucee10, 2007-05-10: 12:15:00
----------------------------
Chaotizen
Created by: brucee10
Pronunciation: Kay - ah - Ti - zen
Sentence: His chaotizen attitude was infuriating. How he could read a book during an multi-server crash, I'll never know.
Etymology: Chaotic + zen or chaos+ citizen(someone who lives in constant chaos and is not alarmed by it)
Calmageddon
Created by: TJayzz
Pronunciation: Kalm-a-ged-don
Sentence: When a fire broke out in the office, the normally shy and retiring Harry really showed his calmageddon side, he organised everyone into single file and led them calmly out of the building whilst telling awful jokes that made them almost forget the peril they were in.
Etymology: Calm (peaceful and undisturbed, make or become tranquil or quiet) + Armageddon ( catastrophic conflict). (see also 1998 disaster movie) = Calmageddon
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
CALMAGEDDON- nice. Very juxtapositional. - metrohumanx, 2008-07-10: 07:54:00
great etymology - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-10: 09:28:00
Great word AND "sentence." :) - lumina, 2008-07-10: 18:41:00
Another terrific word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-13: 18:09:00
----------------------------
Comments:
Today's definition was inspired by Cory Doctorow's short story "When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth" which is published in Overclocked, and was suggested by autophile. Thank you Cory and autophile! ~ James
I'm still grinning at this one. Well done!
Today's definition was suggested by doctorow. Thank you doctorow. ~ James