Verbal - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Verbal :  adj
1: communicated in the form of words; "verbal imagery"; "a verbal protest"
2: of or relating to or formed from words in general; "verbal ability"
3: of or relating to or formed from a verb; "verbal adjectives like `running' in `hot and cold running water'"
4: relating to or having facility in the use of words; "a good poet is a verbal artist"; "a merely verbal writer who sacrifices content to sound"; "verbal aptitude" [ant: numerical]
5: expressed in spoken words; "a verbal contract"
6: prolix; "you put me to forget a lady's manners by being so verbal"- Shakespeare

Based on WordNet 2.0

Verbal : \Ver"bal\, n. (Gram.) A noun derived from a verb.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Verbal : \Ver"bal\, a. [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? --Shak.

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.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

VERBAL. Parol; by word of mouth; asVerbal : agreement; verbal evidence. Not in writing.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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