VERB ARCHIVES According to Wikipedia, a verb is a part of speech that denotes action, occurrence, or a state of being. Verbs are classified into three types: 1. Intransitive 2. Transitive 3. Ditransitive Examples of these types are: I gave (intransitive), It gave flowers (transitive), and I gave Susan flowers (ditransitive). Intransitive verbs have only a subject and are more abstract. Transitive verbs have a subject and a direct object; ditransitive verbs have a subject, a direct object, and an indirect object. VERB ARCHIVES Key: The word's language of origin appears directly below it, and to the right of that is an example sentence and an etymology, along with any related themes. Word Phonetic Pronunciation Part of Speech Definition blackball Other BLAK-bawl noun verb 1. to vote against; esp. to exclude from membership by casting a negative vote 2. to exclude socially; ostracize 3. (as a noun) a negative vote Ex. Etym. Calvin and Hobbes routinely blackball girls in their frequent treetop G.R.O.S.S. meetings. Attested to an old practice of voting to condemn a criminal by placing black pebbles in an urn. boondoggle Other BOON-daw-gul noun verb 1. a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts as a hatband or ornament 2. a wasteful or impractical project often involving graft 3. verb : to do useless, wasteful, or trivial work 4. verb : to deceive or attempt to deceive Ex. Etym. Rel. Themes: Enron's CEO was jailed for boondoggling investors. Unknown, though attributed to American scoutmaster R.H. Link as a name for the braided cord described in definition 1. Sounds Silly confabulate Latin con-FAB-u-late verb 1. to talk informally; CHAT 2. to fill in gaps in memory by fabrication Ex. Rel. Themes: Dad is in the parlor confabulating with a prospective customer Complex Words For Simple Things | Likely Literary | Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words deracinate Middle French dee-RAY-sin-ate verb 1. UPROOT 2. to displace from one’s native or accustomed environment Ex. Ex. 2. Rel. Themes: To keep an orderly garden, you must frequently deracinate unwanted weeds. During World War II, Hitler deracinated millions of German-born Jews as a part of his “final solution.” Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words flabbergast Portmanteau FLA-bur-gast verb to put to confusion or embarrassment; to astonish utterly, confound Ex. Etym. Rel. Themes: Ms. Tippet was so flabbergasted by the appearance of her son at the wedding that she fainted, and not even the strongest smelling salts could avail her. Perhaps a combination of flabber + aghast, suggestive of the shaking one does when utterly astonished. Portmanteaux, Sounds Silly gorgonize Greek GOR-gu-nize verb to have a paralyzing or mesmerizing effect on; STUPEFY Ex. Etym. Rel. Themes: The young lass was instantly gorgonized by the shapely frame of the newly arrived stranger from New York. From the Greek gorgos, "terrifying." Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words haver Unknown HAY-ver verb to talk nonsense (regional: Scotland & N. England) Ex. Note: Don’t ask him, he’ll just haver at you about how good things used to be. Havers! = Nonsense! obnubilate Latin aub-NOO-bi-late verb to becloud or obscure Ex. Rel. Themes: The judge’s ruling included excessive amounts of dicta, which did nothing but obnubilate his main points. Complex Words For Simple Things | Little-known Synonyms for Well-known Words | Words That Impress regale Middle French ri-GALE verb 1. to entertain richly or agreeably 2. to give pleasure or amusement to 3. to feast oneself Ex. Rel. Themes: After we had sated ourselves on ham and mead, the bard regaled us with tales of kings. Likely Literary wassail Old Norse WAH-sul verb 1. to sit carousing and health-drinking 2. to sing carols from house to house at Xmas 3. to drink to the health or thriving of Ex. Etym. Rel. Themes: Our musically inclined neighbors typically wassail us with beautiful carols on Christmas Day, but this year they are out of town. From the Old Norse toast ves heill, "be well" Likely Literary Get the latest browser Copyright © 2005 - 2008 by 3 Roads Media This site was designed and is best viewed at a 1280 x 1024 pixel resolution.