Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
verve - 4 dictionary results

verve

[vurv] ,
–noun
1. enthusiasm or vigor, as in literary or artistic work; spirit: Her latest novel lacks verve.
2. vivaciousness; liveliness; animation: I like a teacher with plenty of verve.
3. Archaic. talent.

Origin:
1690–1700; < F: enthusiasm, whim, chatter, appar. < L verba words, talk, pl. (taken in VL as fem. sing.) of verbum word; see verb
verve   (vûrv)   
n.  
  1. Energy and enthusiasm in the expression of ideas, especially in artistic performance or composition: The revival lacked the verve of the original musical.
  2. Vitality; liveliness. See Synonyms at vigor.
  3. Archaic Aptitude; talent.

[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.]

Verve

Verve\, n. [F.] Excitement of imagination such as animates a poet, artist, or musician, in composing or performing; rapture; enthusiasm; spirit; energy.
Language Translation for : verve
Spanish: viveza,
German: der Schwung,
Japanese: 活気

verve 
1697, "special talent in writing," from Fr. verve "enthusiasm" (especially pertaining to the arts), in O.Fr. "caprice, odd humor, proverb" (12c.), probably from Gallo-Romance *verva, from L. verba "(whimsical) words," plural of verbum "word" (see verb). Meaning "mental vigor" is first recorded 1803.
Search another word or see verve on Thesaurus | Reference