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'All I had was a wooden brain...'

DEFINITION: n. A person who, using an example from their own life, steers people away from a line of speculation by reducing it to an absurdity. v. To dismantle a logical argument with piles of passionate incoherence.

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Verboticisms

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Rationalbatross

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: ra shun al bit ross

Sentence: When Penelope asked her father, Gordie, for a computer (or anything that cost money), he had his usual rationalbatross excuse ready. On this occasion it was about the fact that when he was young, computers were a science fiction story, not reality. So he had to develop his super brainpower to get through all eight of his years of school. Of course, he then went into his old "I walked through five feet of snow for eight miles without boots or a winter coat, carrying a raw potato for my lunch at school, after I had milked the cows, fed the pigs and chickens and brought in a bucket of snow to melt for water" schtick.

Etymology: Rational (logical) & Albatross (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps)

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Anecdotophile

zrotv

Created by: zrotv

Pronunciation: ăn'ĭk -dŏt'ə-fīl

Sentence: I try to have logical conversations with people who don't read, but they are always such anecdotophiles. They never have any sources for information, just nebulous myths and stories.

Etymology: anecdote and phile (New Latin -philus, from Greek -philos, beloved, dear, from philos, beloved, loving.)

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Wrang-wrang

Created by: vonnegut

Pronunciation: rang-rang

Sentence: There was a sign around my dead cat's neck. It said, "Meow." I have not seen Krebbs since. Nonetheless, I sense that he was my karass. If he was, he served it as a wrang-wrang.

Etymology: Created by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., for Cat's Cradle, published in 1963.

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Fishstorian

Created by: toadstool57

Pronunciation: fish-stor-ee-un

Sentence: My dad, the dontor, was a great fishstorian, luring me away from any prospect by telling tales of "back in the day" when he chose that option.

Etymology: fish story, historian

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COMMENTS:

very clever! - wordmeister, 2007-04-19: 04:14:00

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Philosophistry

CharlieB

Created by: CharlieB

Pronunciation: fill-oh-sof-is-tree

Sentence: George Osbourne's sense of his place in the world was completely dement-Id. 'The bankers' failure should be rewarded with more perks, because they're from Eton and will do the right thing,' he rationa-lies-ed to the country.

Etymology: philsophy (system of personal beliefs) + sophistry (a false argument)

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Discouragent

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: disk urr a jent

Sentence: He respectfully suggested that the laws of physics would have to be rewritten in order for that particular position would prove successful (in terms of a non lethat outcome), proving that he was a complete discouragent

Etymology: discouragement, gentleman

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COMMENTS:

oops, i meant non- lethal. - galwaywegian, 2007-04-18: 05:09:00

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Reminosence

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: re/mi/no/sens

Sentence: Whenever she tried to have a meaningful chat with her boyfriend about where their relationship was headed he would veer off topic with crazy reminosenses.

Etymology: reminiscence + no sense

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COMMENTS:

Very good word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-25: 09:37:00

Why is it that the road to ruin is the future part of the stroll down memory lane? - Nosila, 2008-06-25: 21:55:00

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Focalrecoiliot

Created by: Bulletchewer

Pronunciation: fo-cull-re-coyl-ee-utt

Sentence: Tony was a focalrecoiliot, citing his days in "Ugly Rumours" as the definitive evidence that we ought to go to war with Iraq (I mean, with America, against Iraq)instead of investing in our hospitals and schools.

Etymology: From that film (sorry, movie) Total Recall, "focal" meaning "nothing", "recoil" meaning "backward jerk of a gun" and "idiot" meaning "Governator". Who else wants some acid?

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COMMENTS:

don't atke this the wrong way Bulletchewer but I think focalrecoil might have worked better because it's the same number of syllables as total recall - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-18: 13:28:00

I meant don't take but you probably figured that out - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-18: 13:30:00

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Belower

AnnieChandon

Created by: AnnieChandon

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Disfable

Created by: patb

Pronunciation: dis-fay-bull

Sentence: Roger used disfables about his childhood to discourage his children. It worked

Etymology: dis + fable + disable

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-18: 02:13:00
Today's definition was suggested by Kurt Vonnegut and first appeared in his novel Cat's Cradle.
Thank you Mr. Vonnegut! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-06-25: 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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-11-04: 00:33:00
Today's definition was suggested by vonnegut. Thank you vonnegut. ~ James