Saturday, September 30, 2006

Belt of Verbs

Buckle on your verb belt because it's time for "Belt of Verbs": a couple of kicky, kooky verbs for filling up the empty pouch.

1. From this ESPN headline: decisions
Former WBC Ortiz decisions Garcia

I'm not much for boxing (anything that reminds me of enduring punishing blows to my head, no thank you), but "decisions," the lexicon tells me, has been around for quite some time. It's what one winning boxer does to a losing boxer without a knockout. Improper usage: "I decisioned to have an A&W Root Beer with lunch." Unless you're a boxer. Then you can say "decisioned" whenever you please.

2. From a book I've been reading: multiplexed
"Two kinds of apprehension are mutliplexed together."

I guess this means something like giving off many complex and layered signals all at once: an entangled conduction that allows for (even anticipates) loss. So it's in the realm of the intelligible that comes just before noise. Not to be mistaken for the many-screened movie theater or the manufacturer of foam planes.

Bookmark and Share Posted by at September 30, 2006 11:05 PM to Belt of Verbs
Comments

Actually, I use "multiplex" as a verb to denote any kind of retail consolidation in a community. When I was growing up, there were a bunch of scattered 1 and 2 screen theaters. In high school, I think, they all closed and combined into our area's multiplex, which was a lot less convenient for everyone other than General Cinemas and the folks who lived near the place itself. Sucked.

So B&N/Borders have largely multiplexed the independent bookstores, Walmart the general stores, and so on.

cgb

Posted by: collin at October 1, 2006 1:00 AM

I'd always considered megaplex or multiplex to be a name for the gigantic movie palaces that grew up and replaced the one- and two-screen houses, but I can't say I've ever seen it as a verb. Until now. Today my belt of verbs more full than ever before.

Posted by: Derek at October 1, 2006 10:22 AM

A friend told me she'd been "futuring" with a guy. She meant they'd been discussing their future. "Futuring." I explained to her that I'm an ad copywriter, and even I wouldn't stoop to such a vile verbification. I think I offended her, though. Haven't heard back.

Posted by: Paddy at October 3, 2006 3:09 PM

Sounds to me like she decisioned not to be your friend any more. I like futuring better than "pasting." Do you remember that time when...?

Posted by: Derek at October 4, 2006 4:15 PM