Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The killing of a word, in a figurative sense; perversion of a word from its proper meaning, as in punning.
- noun One who kills a word or words.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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“Lord,” and contemplate the following couplet which one cannot make rhyme without actual verbicide: ” “Where feeds the moose, and walks the surly bear,
Ralph Waldo Emerson Holmes, Oliver W 1891
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"Lord," and contemplate the following couplet which one cannot make rhyme without actual verbicide: --
Complete Project Gutenberg Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Works Oliver Wendell Holmes 1851
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Homicide and verbicide -- that is, violent treatment of a word with fatal results to its legitimate meaning, which is its life -- are alike forbidden.
Complete Project Gutenberg Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Works Oliver Wendell Holmes 1851
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Homicide and verbicide -- that is, violent treatment of a word with fatal results to its legitimate meaning, which is its life -- are alike forbidden.
Autocrat of the Breakfast Table Oliver Wendell Holmes 1851
adoarns commented on the word verbicide
Apparently, willful disregard for the meaning of a word, or using it in such a way, a distorter, a wormtongue. And, in that wonderful way -cide words often have, refers to the person who does so as well.
However, when I first saw it, I thought of linguicide, which figures heavy in efforts to combat language extinction.
December 18, 2007
reesetee commented on the word verbicide
Sounds like you're doing away with your pasta.
December 18, 2007
jmjarmstrong commented on the word verbicide
JM is, like, upset, like, about, like, verbicide.
March 24, 2011