Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Verbal

Ver′bal

,
Adj.
[F., fr. L.
verbalis
. See
Verb
.]
1.
Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written;
as, a
verbal
contract;
verbal
testimony.
Made she no
verbal
question?
Shakespeare
We subjoin an engraving . . . which will give the reader a far better notion of the structure than any
verbal
description could convey to the mind.
Mayhew.
2.
Consisting in, or having to do with, words only; dealing with words rather than with the ideas intended to be conveyed;
as, a
verbal
critic; a
verbal
change
.
And loses, though but
verbal
, his reward.
Milton.
Mere
verbal
refinements, instead of substantial knowledge.
Whewell.
3.
Having word answering to word; word for word; literal;
as, a
verbal
translation
.
4.
Abounding with words; verbose.
[Obs.]
Shak.
5.
(Gram.)
Of or pertaining to a verb;
as, a
verbal
group
; derived directly from a verb;
as, a
verbal
noun
; used in forming verbs;
as, a
verbal
prefix
.
Verbal inspiration
.
See under
Inspiration
.
Verbal noun
(Gram.)
,
a noun derived directly from a verb or verb stem; a verbal. The term is specifically applied to infinitives, and nouns ending in -ing, esp. to the latter. See
Gerund
, and
-ing
, 2. See also,
Infinitive mood
, under
Infinitive
.

Ver′bal

,
Noun.
(Gram.)
A noun derived from a verb.

Webster 1828 Edition


Verbal

VERB'AL

,
Adj.
[L. verbalis.]
1.
Spoken; expressed to the ear in words; not written; as a verbal message; a verbal contract; verbal testimony.
2.
Oral; uttered by the mouth.
3.
Consisting in mere words; as a verbal reward.
4.
Respecting words only; as a verbal dispute.
5.
Minutely exact in words, or attending to words only; as a verbal critic.
6.
Literal; having word answering to word; as a verbal translation.
7.
In grammar, derived from a verb; as a verbal noun.
8.
Verbose; abounding with words. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024


verbal

verbal

See also: vèrbal

English

Adjective

verbal (not comparable)

  1. Of or relating to words.
  2. Concerned with the words, rather than the substance of a text.
  3. Consisting of words only.
    • Mayhew
      We subjoin an engraving [] which will give the reader a far better notion of the structure than any verbal description could convey to the mind.
  4. Expressly spoken rather than written.
    a verbal contract; verbal testimony
  5. (grammar) Derived from, or having the nature of a verb.
  6. (grammar) Used to form a verb.
  7. Capable of speech.
    • 2005, Avril V. Brereton, Bruce J. Tonge, Pre-schoolers with autism (page 55)
      How do these language problems affect the behaviour of verbal children?
  8. Word for word; literal; verbatim.
    a verbal translation
  9. (obsolete) Abounding with words; verbose.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

Synonyms

  • (of or relating to words): wordish
  • (of or relating to speech or words): lectic
  • (derived from a verb): rhematic

Antonyms

Related terms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

verbal (plural verbals)

  1. (grammar) A verb form which does not function as a predicate, or a word derived from a verb. In English, infinitives, participles and gerunds are verbals.

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

verbal (third-person singular simple present verbals, present participle verballing, simple past and past participle verballed)

  1. (transitive, Britain, Australia) To induce into fabricating a confession.
    • 1982, John A. Andrews, Human Rights in Criminal Procedure: A Comparative Study, ISBN 9024725526, BRILL, page 128:
      "The problem of 'verballing' is unlikely to disappear, whatever the legal status of the person detained."
    • 2001, Chris Cunneen, Conflict, Politics and Crime: Aboriginal Communities and the Police, ISBN 1864487194, Allen & Unwin, page 116:
      "Condren had always claimed that he was assaulted and verballed by police over the murder he had supposedly confessed to committing."
    • 2004, Jeremy Gans & Andrew Palmer, Australian Principles of Evidence, ISBN 1876905123, Routledge Cavendish, page 504:
      "Moreover, given the risk of verballing, it is by no means apparent that it is in the interests of justice that the prosecution have the benefit of admissions that are made on occasions when recordings are impracticable."

French

Pronunciation

Adjective

verbal m (feminine singular verbale, masculine plural verbaux, feminine plural verbales)

  1. verbal

German

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /vɛʁˈbaːl/
  • Rhymes: -aːl

Adjective

verbal (not comparable)

  1. verbal

Declension

Synonyms


Portuguese

Etymology

From Late Latin verbalis.

Adjective

verbal m, f (plural verbais, comparable)

  1. verbal, oral

Spanish

Adjective

verbal m, f (plural verbales)

  1. verbal

Noun

verbal m, f (plural verbales)

  1. (grammar) verbal

Related terms