verve

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It has swing, verve, and genuine force.

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Definitions (6)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun Energy and enthusiasm in the expression of ideas, especially in artistic performance or composition: The revival lacked the verve of the original musical.
  2. noun Vitality; liveliness. See Synonyms at vigor.
  3. noun Archaic Aptitude; talent.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (1)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples (50)

  • With imagination, verve, and a hefty package of financial incentives, the makers of the latest Batman epic turned Chicago into Gotham City, giving our town a starring role in razzle-dazzle chases and heart-stopping stunts. —  Web Section
  • It has succeeded in establishing journalistic credibility and a reputation for quality and verve, and in becoming a part of the local, national, and international conversation. —  New York Sun - All Articles
  • "It has succeeded in establishing journalistic credibility and a reputation for quality and verve, and in becoming a part of the local, national and international conversation," Lipsky said. —  The Money Times - finance news, lifestyle, markets, investment, personal finance, banking, retirement planning
  • She spoke without notes and a large supply of verve, apparently eager to get in the arena.
  • And yet it was there was attacking verve, and the team were cohesive. —  TEAMtalk Football News
 

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. French, from Old French, fanciful expression, probably from Vulgar Latin *verva, from Latin verba, pl. of verbum, word; see wer-5 in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from French verve, rapture, animation, spirit, caprice, whim.
 

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/vərv/
by American Heritage

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