Verboticism: Petriflect

'So what do you think of my snake?'

DEFINITION: v. To pretend that you adore someone's pet even though it is annoyingly stupid, bizarrely threatening, or just plain stinky. n. A alarming pet or companion, which nevertheless requires fawning.

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Petriflect

Created by: OZZIEBOB

Pronunciation: PET-ra-flekt

Sentence: When Bob described his pet "Phido" as a sanguined-eyed, silky-skinned sweetie, craving to be cuddled, Roxie couldn't wait to meet him. But to her horror, when Phido slithered silently from under a cushion on the sofa she was sitting, she almost apsed into unconsciousness. Not wishing to offend Bob she smiled and petriflected, as if nothing was a hiss. However when Phido sidled up to her and slipped inside her blouse, she feared she was about to be cleopatronized. Bob told her not to worry, saying: "That's his way of showing you that he likes you."

Etymology: Blend of PET, tamed or domesticated animal; PETRIFY, metaphorically to paralyse with fear, shock; FLECT, to bend as in GENFLECTION, to bend knee or touch ground in adoration; obeisance, dote. Nouns: petriflection; a petriflect. "Phido" Gk:ophidia-snake

Points: 734

Comments: Petriflect

silveryaspen - 2008-03-07: 09:45:00
Your sentence is so full of great plays on words! Cunning sentence and word!

Jabberwocky - 2008-03-07: 09:50:00
what a word week

Banky - 2008-03-08: 09:06:00
Uh, wow, I guess I've learned the value of pressing "show all" instead of "more", because I almost completely ripped yours off in mine. I totally didn't mean to, sorry Oz! :(