Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A wayward scent or aroma which invokes distant memories of one's childhood or younger days. v. To be suddenly catapulted into the past by a very strong odor.
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.
Olefactory
Created by: Banky
Pronunciation: /ohl-fak-torr-ee/
Sentence: Ron's nose smelled heated metal and stinging welled in his eyes. The punch had landed squarely on the bridge of his nose, and had trigged an olefactory reaction. He remembered the first time his stepdad had hit him. The terror as he grabbed him by the back of the shirt, the smell of red iron, a mouth full of blood, and his stepfather writhing and clawing at the side of his own head. He snapped out of the memory with a mouth full of salt and rubber, and there lay the mugger doubled much the way John was, years ago. He spat, and the ear landed askew on the ground, like a fallen leaf.
Etymology: ole - colloquial version of "old"; olfactory - relating to the sense of smell
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COMMENTS:
pretty graphic but a terrific word - Jabberwocky, 2009-03-23: 12:28:00
Your sentence ranks right up there with the best of Steven King! - silveryaspen, 2009-03-23: 13:41:00
Really good word and terrific sentence. - kateinkorea, 2009-03-23: 23:29:00
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Smemories
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: smem(ə)rēz
Sentence: While Bubba was touring the Everglades, somebody popped the top on a can of Red, White & Blue. Suddenly the smemmories flooded back. The combination of the fragrance of brackish water and cheap beer was almost too much for him. The mere thought of using kids as gator bait still makes him shudder. As bad as it is for him, it’s double for his buddy Lefty.
Etymology: smell (an odor or scent) + memories (something remembered from the past; a recollection)
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COMMENTS:
very funny - mrskellyscl, 2010-10-05: 06:18:00
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Yesterwhiff
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: yess-ter-wiff
Sentence: Whenever she ate at the local diner the yesterwhiff of bacon & eggs aroma made her smile.
Etymology: yesterday + whiff
Retrostench
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: re-tro-stench
Sentence: Wandering through the empty bingo hall, Jean soon became aware of a retrostench that was clearly that of an old lady marinated in Lilly of the Valley toilet water perfume. "It couldn't be," she thought, "Grandma's been dead for 20 years."
Etymology: Retro--involving, relating to or reminicent of things past Stench--an offensive smell or odor
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COMMENTS:
super word - Jabberwocky, 2009-03-23: 12:25:00
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Nosetalgia
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: nōstaljə
Sentence: Charlie went out for a walk. As he approached a patch of woods he caught the unmistakable scent of skunk. In a case of nosestalgia, he flashed back to his first encounter with one of these odoriferous creatures. It was quite a shock for a puppy to think that something he saw as a possible playmate would do something so rude. His current walk quickly took a new direction.
Etymology: nose (the sense of smell, esp. a dog's ability to track something by its scent) + nostalgia (a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past)
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COMMENTS:
terrific - Jabberwocky, 2009-03-23: 12:24:00
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Whiffersnapper
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: wiff-a-snap-a
Sentence: Mmmm! there's something about the whiffersnapper of packaging materials, that takes me right back to the Christmas parcel Grandma used to send us half way around the world.
Etymology: whiff (scent) + whippersnaper (youth)
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COMMENTS:
love it! - Jabberwocky, 2009-03-23: 12:30:00
Whiffersnapper conjures up the crackle of the enlightening smell in the air! Wheffervescent! - silveryaspen, 2009-03-23: 14:02:00
Enjoyed it...whiff love! - Nosila, 2009-03-23: 23:05:00
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Existenchialist
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: eggs iss ten sha lizt
Sentence: In an absurd world the base existenchialist instincts always lead one towards home, or fish.
Etymology: existencialist, stench
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COMMENTS:
hysterical - Jabberwocky, 2009-03-23: 12:23:00
:-) great word for unforgettably bad smells! Great create! - silveryaspen, 2009-03-23: 13:39:00
hehehe - bookowl, 2009-03-24: 13:36:00
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Melancholfactory
Created by: kalex
Pronunciation: Me-lin-kol-fa-k-ter-eee
Sentence: The smell had a melancholfactory essence, subtly reminding me of years before, when Jack and I had also caught ourselves on fire. Burnt flesh! That brings it all back!
Etymology: melancholy-a forlorn feeling sometimes associated with nostalgia olfactory-having to do with or of the sense of smell, odor
Scentiment
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: sent i ment
Sentence: When old John was lying in the hospital he kept smelling the aroma of roses. It raised in him the scentiment of his Mama and the perfume she wore when he was young. It was not until he recovered from his surgery that realized it was the smell from the soapy water they used to mop the floor with each day.
Etymology: Scent (aroma, smell) & Sentiment (tender or romantic feeling or emotion)
Rememaroma
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: re-mem-ah-ROME-ah
Sentence: Oscar's wife, Hattie, could tell by the sly smile that crossed Oscar's face when she entered the room where he was just awakening that her fragrance gave him a pleasurable rememaroma, and she blushed at the thoughts that crossed her own mind.
Etymology: Blend of 'remember' (to recall something) and 'aroma' (scent or odor)
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by metrohumanx. Thank you metrohumanx. ~ James
silveryaspen - 2009-03-23: 14:34:00
The score details are a great enhancement and have helped me understand them. Thank you!
Wow! This phenomenon seems to be more widespread than i thought! Apparently it's one of our more primal instincts.
RE: Score Details. I am still looking for a bug where it fails to add some votes to our weekly totals. Hopefully the score details page will help us find it. ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by metrohumanx. Thank you metrohumanx. ~ James