verbals
verbals Lexical Profile
verbals Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The plural form of 'verbal'; in grammar, words derived from verbs (such as gerunds, participles, and infinitives) that function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs rather than as main verbs.
"The grammar lesson focused on identifying how verbals operate as modifiers or subjects within complex sentences."
British Spoken abuse, insults, or provocative remarks; in law enforcement slang, damaging oral statements attributed to a suspect.
"The referee warned both captains to stop trading verbals on the pitch."
• verb
British To attribute a damaging or incriminating oral statement to a suspect, especially dishonestly (third-person singular simple present of 'verbal').
"The defense attorney claims the officer routinely verbals suspects during unrecorded interviews."
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Late Latin 'verbalis' (consisting of words), from Latin 'verbum' (word), with the plural and third-person singular inflectional suffix '-s'.