Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A harmless untruth, intended to comfort simple souls. v. To use a little bit a fiction to smooth over the perplexities and complexities of life.
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.
Foma
Created by: vonnegut
Pronunciation: fo-ma
Sentence: Nothing in this book is true. "Live by the foma* that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy." The Books of Bokonon. I: 5
Etymology: Created by Kurt Vonnegut for Cat's Cradle, published in 1963.
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COMMENTS:
foma - accept no substitutes. - Alchemist, 2007-04-16: 06:51:00
we can't go through the whole week respelling Vonneguts words....or can we? - rikboyee, 2007-04-16: 09:24:00
It's the best way to win the prize.... :-) - jedijawa, 2007-04-16: 12:54:00
What's the singular? And should I have heard of Vonnegut? Has he been on TV? Recently? Bliss. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-16: 15:11:00
The singular form is "fomum", like phenomena (plural) and phenomenum (signular). Comes from Latin. Did you study Latin in highschool? I did, and I'm still trying to get over it. - wordmeister, 2007-04-16: 15:22:00
It's all Greek to me! - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-16: 16:14:00
you can even go into the news/blog section and it will tell you which word this definition comes from.... i honestly feel that using Vonneguts word taints the wampeter of our humble karass - rikboyee, 2007-04-16: 17:44:00
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Enfabler
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: en fay belur
Sentence: Most parents are enfablers to ease their little ones through life's stages. Case in point is when the kiddies start losing their baby teeth. If the tooth in question is put under the child's pillow, their parents tell them that the Tooth Fairy will take it away while they sleep and leave them money. Truth is, they should tell the kids to put away that money for when their adult teeth start falling out and they need to pay a dentist huge sums to replace them...
Etymology: Enabler (one who can render capable or able for some task; makes it easier) & Fable (a deliberately false or improbable account; a short moral story; often using imaginary or supernatural events)
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COMMENTS:
You mean there IS no tooth fairy? I'm shattered! - metrohumanx, 2009-11-02: 01:48:00
Relax, though...there is a Santa Claus and an Easter Bunny! - Nosila, 2009-11-02: 09:29:00
So trutooth. - splendiction, 2009-11-02: 23:13:00
splendid - mweinmann, 2009-11-03: 07:52:00
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Fibfort
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: fib-fort
Sentence: Clarence told many fibforts to his grandkids just before bed time.
Etymology: fib (lie) + comfort (minus the com)
Plafibo
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: pla-FEE-bo
Sentence: "What do I say?" thought Bob. That was what he had been asking himself all week. But Roxie's questions were flying faster than any of his answers were coming in to land. He needed a plafibo to allay her fears; he hoped he would find one before she found out that he had lost the tickets for their upcoming overseas trip.
Etymology: PLACEBO: ME from Latin: I shall be pleased;an innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier & FIB: a small trivial lie, minor falsehood.
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COMMENTS:
great - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-23: 16:03:00
Good one! - lumina, 2008-06-23: 22:55:00
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Troose
Created by: reverb
Pronunciation: troos
Sentence: Some people thought CEO was stealing money from the shareholders, but troose was that he was just borrowing it.
Etymology: loose truth
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COMMENTS:
seems to fit - reverb, 2008-07-12: 15:40:00
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Blancamuse
Created by: theDoad
Pronunciation: blank-ah-mewze
Sentence: "I'm sorry, what did you say? I'm afraid I was blancamusing the whole scenario!"
Etymology:
Troolish
Created by: wurdless
Pronunciation: troo-lish
Sentence: You look great! he said troolishly
Etymology: true + foolish
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COMMENTS:
yup. everyone I know will be using this now. I love this word. - Headcrab, 2012-06-09: 04:38:00
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Chickenpoup
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: chi-ken-poop
Sentence: I thought his concern was sincere when I told him of my hamster Kitty's passing. I later realized it was just chickenpoup for my soul when he suggested I flush her down the toilet.
Etymology: chicken soup for the soul; poop (as in a line of crap)
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COMMENTS:
Never understood the notion of chicken soup being comforting, cos frankly the stuff I've had has always been vile. That opined, the connotation of cowardice is good. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-16: 14:59:00
Well, after you pick out all the mushy vegetables, add more noodles, a dash of lemon and pepper, it's palatable. I guess chicken soup sounded better than Whopper with Cheese. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-16: 15:26:00
That sounds suspiciously like actually cooking something to me. Gimme the can of cream of tomato instead. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-16: 16:11:00
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Skullhuggery
Created by: pinwheel
Pronunciation: skull/hug/ar/ee
Sentence: It's a massive spot on the end of my nose but my boyfriend says you can hardly see it. He's either blind or telling me a skullhuggery!
Etymology: Skullduggery + Hug
Comments:
ErWenn - 2007-04-16: 08:00:00
Best verbotoon ever. So it goes, buddy, so it goes.
ErWenn - 2007-04-16: 08:20:00
Just noticed what was written on the typewriter. Ha!
Verbotomy - 2007-04-16: 15:03:00
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James
Verbotomy - 2007-04-16: 15:12:00
RE: "Best Verbotoon Ever" Thanks ErWenn! However I must say it was all inspired by KV himself. So it goes... ~ James
Verbotomy - 2007-04-17: 16:11:00
See the top 4 words of the day at Yeah, I'm in heaven now ~ James
Verbotomy - 2008-06-23: 00:01:00
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James
wurdless - 2008-07-12: 15:23:00
Vonnegut is cool!
reverb - 2008-07-12: 15:31:00
cat's cradle rocks
Verbotomy - 2009-11-02: 00:00:00
Today's definition was suggested by vonnegut. Thank you vonnegut. ~ James
metrohumanx - 2009-11-02: 01:42:00
Live it or live WITH it!