Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun humorous, neologism One who has an enjoyment of words and wordplay.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

from Latin verbum ("word") + Latin vorax, from vorō ("devour"), on the pattern of herbivore and carnivore; coined in the early 1980s by Richard Lederer

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Examples

  • I would love to know what you think of Markson when you read him! verbivore – I think that part of my post was misleading, in that the most likely interpretation is to see this as a stream of consciousness, and from a writer considering a prospective new work.

    A Bit of an Experiment « Tales from the Reading Room 2010

  • I would think that a dose of irony, a bit of humour, and a plug into the innate ludicrousness of the spy world would go down a treat! verbivore – what I notice is that it takes the group a while to get going.

    More From The Writing Group « Tales from the Reading Room 2009

  • If you're a verbivore like I am, then Worthless Word for the Day is the site for you!

    Archive 2005-03-01 2005

  • There are not enough truly comforting books in the world, but this one makes up for their meagreness! verbivore – I kid you not, it’s like that all the way through.

    A Taster « Tales from the Reading Room 2009

  • But I do hope Bon Appetit turns out better than expected; that would be a nice New Year’s present. verbivore – and happy holidays to you!

    Family Legacies « Tales from the Reading Room 2009

  • I’ve read tons of Oates, maybe half of her oeuvre (which, in this case, is saying quite a bit since, as verbivore notes, there’s so darn much!) and I think you really get at the heart of Oates considerable gifts as a writer.

    Back To The Books « Tales from the Reading Room 2008

Comments

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  • From the new Steven Pinker book, "The Stuff of Thought",

    "We are verbivores, a species that lives on words, and the meaning and use of language are bound to be among the major things we ponder, share, and dispute".

    This is about as perfect a summary of Wordie as you can get.

    September 20, 2007

  • Reminds me of the "Verbivore Challenge" on the radio show "A Way With Words," a cheesy show about words that was on KPBS when I lived in San Diego. If you haven't ever heard the show...here it is

    September 20, 2007

  • That is a good summary of Wordie! :-)

    September 20, 2007