Synonym Game

verge on

Origin

verge

1[vurj] ,noun, verb, verged, verg·ing.
noun
1.
the edge, rim, or margin of something: the verge of a desert; to operate on the verge of fraud.
2.
the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; brink: on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
3.
a limiting belt, strip, or border of something.
4.
British. a narrow strip of turf bordering on a pathway, sidewalk, roadway, etc.
5.
a decorative border, as on or around an object, structural part, etc.
EXPAND
6.
limited room or scope for something: an action within the verge of one's abilities.
7.
an area or district subject to a particular jurisdiction.
8.
History/Historical. an area or district in England embracing the royal palace, being the jurisdiction of the Marshalsea Court.
9.
the part of a sloping roof that projects beyond the gable wall.
10.
Architecture. the shaft of a column or colonette.
11.
a rod, wand, or staff, especially one carried as an emblem of authority or of the office of a bishop, dean, or the like.
12.
Horology. a palletlike lever formerly used in inexpensive pendulum clocks.
13.
Obsolete. a stick or wand held in the hand of a person swearing fealty to a feudal lord on being admitted as a tenant.
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
14.
to be on the edge or margin; border: Our property verges on theirs.
15.
to come close to or be in transition to some state, quality, etc. (usually followed by on): a statesman who verged on greatness; a situation that verged on disaster.

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Verge on is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
verb (used with object)
16.
to serve as the verge or boundary of: a high hedge verging the yard.

Origin:
1350–1400; late Middle English: shaft, column, rod (hence boundary or jurisdiction symbolized by a steward's rod), Middle English: penis < Middle French: rod < Latin virga


1. brim, lip, brink.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

verge
"tend, incline," 1610, from L. vergere "to bend, turn, tend toward, incline," from PIE *werg- "to turn," from base *wer- "to turn, bend" (see versus). Much influenced by verge (n.) in its verbal form meaning "to be adjacent to" (1787).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

verge (vûrj)
n.
The extreme edge or margin; a border.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

verge on

  1. Approach, come close to, as in Her ability verges on genius. [Early 1800s]

  2. Be on the edge or border of, as in Our property verges on conservation land. [Late 1700s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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