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Webster 1913 Edition


Verve


Verve

,
Noun.
[F.]
Excitement of imagination such as animates a poet, artist, or musician, in composing or performing; rapture; enthusiasm; spirit; energy.

Definition 2024


Verve

Verve

See also: verve

German

Noun

Verve f (genitive Verve, no plural)

  1. verve

Synonyms

verve

verve

See also: Verve

English

Noun

verve (uncountable)

  1. Excitement of imagination such as that which animates a poet, artist, or musician, in composing or performing
  2. artistic energy and enthusiasm
  3. vigour, vitality and liveliness
    • 2012 April 9, Mandeep Sanghera, “Tottenham 1 - 2 Norwich”, in BBC Sport:
      After spending so much of the season looking upwards, the swashbuckling style and swagger of early season Spurs was replaced by uncertainty and frustration against a Norwich side who had the quality and verve to take advantage
  4. rapture, enthusiasm
  5. spirit, energy
    • 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “chapter XII”, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, OCLC 1227855:
      Normally, this [girl] presents to the world the appearance of one who is feeling that if it isn't the best of all possible worlds, it's quite good enough to be going on with till a better one comes along. Verve, I mean, and animation and all that sort of thing. But now there was a listlessness about her [...]

Translations

External links

  • verve in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • verve in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Dutch

Verb

verve

  1. (archaic) singular present subjunctive of verven

French

Etymology

Probably from Late Latin verva, alteration of the plural of Latin verbum.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /vɛʁv/

Noun

verve f (plural verves)

  1. eloquence
  2. verve, brio

Italian

Etymology

Borrowing from French verve.

Noun

verve f (invariable)

  1. verve

Synonyms