Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A self-deprecating computer virus which is constantly changing its identity due to problems with its logic and/or self-confidence. v. To randomly change your tune, just so you can bug other people.
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.
Frozentagalong
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: frozen/tag/a/long
Sentence: When Sally got her first computer it developed a virus that seemed to follow her wherever she went, corrupting any electronic functions. No matter how many times she changed her password it still caught her unawares. She referred to it as her frozentagalong.
Etymology: frozen tag ( a children's game where you can freeze a player by touching them) + tag along
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COMMENTS:
Mabye Sally should've used Babelfish to translate her password into TAGALONG! - metrohumanx, 2009-04-01: 14:53:00
"it still caught her unawares"< LOL!!! :) - abrakadeborah, 2009-04-01: 16:42:00
great word for those frozen screens that force you to tagalong ... until close the window and start over. - silveryaspen, 2009-04-01: 21:34:00
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Morphection
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: môrfekshən
Sentence: Allen’s life became a nightmare when his computer was beset by a morphection. This nasty little gremlin would alter its function every day. On Monday the chime that announced new e-mail was replaced by the theme from Green Acres. On Tuesday anything he tried to put in the trash was rejected by Oscar the Grouch. Wednesday brought with it a multitude of NSFW images to his desktop background. Thursday’s treat was a pop-up advertising Viagra that wouldn’t be deleted because it floated around the screen just ahead of the cursor. Friday was the scariest of all. When he opened his backpack to retrieve his laptop, Allen’s ThinkPad had replaced itself with a Commodore C64. AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
Etymology: morph (to change from one form to another) + infection (the presence of a virus in, or its introduction into, a computer system)
Zigfrag
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: zigfræg
Sentence: Jim's computer is infected with a virus. He never knows how it will show up as it zigfrags its way through the operating system. He'll type a command, watch the spinner and see what happens this time. Yesterday it erased most of his family photos. Today it emailed a porn link to everybody in his address book. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Etymology: zigzag (with frequent sharp turns from side to side) + frag (fragment)
Eebola
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: eeeeeeee boh lah. wouldnt let me put in a hyphen as in e-bola, so added an extra e instead
Sentence: The new strain of eebola is so deadly that it can reduce a laptop to fajita status in less than five minutes
Etymology: ebola as in eeek e as in electronic.
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COMMENTS:
is the extra e supposed to make it look like a different virus? - Jabberwocky, 2009-04-01: 14:39:00
excellent word for a lethal computer terminal virus - silveryaspen, 2009-04-01: 21:23:00
Good word....taco very much - Mustang, 2009-04-02: 00:53:00
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Bacillusvacillus
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: ba-sil-us-va-sil-us
Sentence: The whole world was braced in anticipation of the dreaded basillusvacillus infection that was burrowing itself in random computers looking for their eharmony and twitter passwords and other sensitive information.
Etymology: Bacillus (virus) Vacillate (change, vary) Us (us)
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COMMENTS:
always enjoy a rhyme - makes it easier to remember and brings smiles much of the time - silveryaspen, 2009-04-01: 21:20:00
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Metamorphasses
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: metəmôrfasəz
Sentence: When Judy went to college there was a group she referred to as the metamorphasses. This consisted of a bunch who was willing to jump into any new cause or trend. They would be environmentalists one day, guns-rights activists another. They could stage a food fight this week and collect goods for the food bank the next. Whatever rally or social gathering that was going on, they were there especially if it meant missing classes or if there was food to be had.
Etymology: metamorphosis (a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one) + asses (stupid, irritating, or contemptible people)
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COMMENTS:
Did my verbotomy inspire you to create this one? Imitation is the highest form of flattery. You flatter a lot of people quite often. - silveryaspen, 2009-04-01: 11:11:00
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Chromotose
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: KROME-eh-tose
Sentence: Luckily for Wanda, the virus that had infected her unprotected computer was basically chromotose, it's underlying logic distorted and it was basically a dormant program that devolved rather than evolving.
Etymology: Blend of 'chromosome' (One of the minute bodies into which the chromatin of the nucleus is resolved during mitotic cell division) and 'comatose' (in a state of deep and usually prolonged unconsciousness; unable to respond to external stimuli)
Wormonger
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: woor monger
Sentence: Sally had inadvertantly loaded up the new wormonger virus by entering a contest online. So much for their viral security promises. Every time she tried to capture and elimiate it, it changed yet again. By the time the wormonger was done, Sally wondered how she could wriggle out of this one...
Etymology: Worm (a person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect; a software program capable of reproducing itself that can spread from one computer to the next over a network) & Monger (someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold) & WORDPLAY on Warmonger (a person who advocates war or warlike policies)
Undefinamorphic
Created by: michelleohmy
Pronunciation: un-dee-fine-uh-morph-ic
Sentence: In order to be elected, politicians should take an undefinamorphic stance on important issues in order to pander to different voter groups and to make it impossible for the general public to determine what their actual campaign platform is even.
Etymology: Tarskis undefinability theorem- the concept of truth in that arithmetic is not definable using the expressive means that that arithmetic affords; implies a major limitation on the scope of self-representation + Polymorphic Virus: viruses that encrypt or encode themselves in a different way (using different algorithms and encryption keys) every time they infect a system.
Chromotose
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: KROME-eh-tose
Sentence: Luckily for Miranda the virus that had infected her unprotected computer was basically chromotose, it's underlying logic distorted and it was basically a dormant program that devolved rather than evolving.
Etymology: Blend of 'chromosome' (One of the minute bodies into which the chromatin of the nucleus is resolved during mitotic cell division) and 'comatose' (in a state of deep and usually prolonged unconsciousness; unable to respond to external stimuli)
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COMMENTS:
Thought you also were referring to "chrome", the new google browser!! - mweinmann, 2009-04-01: 16:59:00
Great word! - Nosila, 2009-04-01: 22:29:00
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Comments:
Verbotomy - 2009-04-01: 00:01:01
Today's definition was suggested by abrakadeborah. Thank you abrakadeborah. ~ James
silveryaspen - 2009-04-01: 11:21:00
Great definition for today, Abrakadeborah and James! Good April Fool's joke to put that pay window into your cartoon James. It fooled me ... and perhaps a few others, too. I laughed harder when i realized it was all part of today's funny fool's day cartoon!
Verbotomy - 2009-04-01: 11:35:00
Thank you for sending in your credit card info! ~ James
abrakadeborah - 2009-04-01: 15:33:00
Thanks James :) Great cartoon! I LOVE it! I had forgotten about my definition until Metrohumanx pointed it out and I had already made a word today :)) I'm stoked! You all are supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! :)
Verbotomy - 2009-04-03: 09:56:00
It's funny how ideas come and grow. The good ones keep gnawing at the back of your mind. ~ James
Verbotomy - 2010-10-14: 00:16:00
Today's definition was suggested by abrakadeborah. Thank you abrakadeborah. ~ James