verbal

verbal
—verbally, adv.
/verr"beuhl/, adj.
1. of or pertaining to words: verbal ability.
2. consisting of or in the form of words: verbal imagery.
3. expressed in spoken words; oral rather than written: verbal communication; verbal agreement.
4. consisting of or expressed in words (as opposed to actions): a verbal protest.
5. pertaining to or concerned with words only (as opposed to ideas, facts, or realities): a purely verbal distinction between two concepts.
6. corresponding word for word; verbatim: a verbal translation.
7. using words: verbal facility.
8. based on the use of words (as opposed to other activity): a verbal score in a test; verbal IQ.
9. Gram.
a. of, pertaining to, or derived from a verb.
b. used in a sentence as or like a verb, as participles and infinitives.
n.
10. Gram. a word, particularly a noun or adjective, derived from a verb.
[1485-95; < L verbalis, equiv. to verb(um) word (see VERB) + -alis -AL1]
Syn. 3. spoken.
Usage. 3, 4. VERBAL has had the meaning "spoken" since the late 16th century and is thus synonymous with oral: He wrote a memorandum to confirm the verbal agreement. Slightly earlier, VERBAL had developed the meaning "expressed in words, whether spoken or written (as opposed to actions)": Verbal support is no help without money and supplies. Although some say that the use of VERBAL to mean "spoken" produces ambiguity, it rarely does so.
VERBAL is used in this sense in all varieties of speech and writing and is fully standard. The context usually makes the meaning clear: No documents are necessary; a verbal agreement (or contract or order) will suffice. Oral can be used instead of VERBAL if the context demands: My lawyer insists on a written contract because oral agreements are too difficult to enforce.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • verbal — verbal, ale, aux [ vɛrbal, o ] adj. • 1337, attesté par l adv. verbalement; lat. verbalis, de verbum → verbe I ♦ 1 ♦ Qui se fait de vive voix (opposé à écrit). ⇒ oral. Promesse verbale. Ordres, rapports verbaux. Convention verbale. Location… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • verbal — verbal, ale (vèr bal, ba l ) adj. 1°   Qui n est que de vive voix et non par écrit. Des ordres verbaux. •   Il n y a point de promesse de mariage verbale ni par écrit, PATRU Plaidoyer 11. •   On a prétendu que le connétable de Montmorency fut… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • 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. [1913 Webster] Made she no verbal question?… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • verbal — VERBÁL, Ă, verbali, e, adj. 1. Care se face, se transmite, se comunică prin viu grai, din gură în gură; care caracterizează graiul viu, vorbirea; oral. 2. Care aparţine verbului (1), privitor la verb, de verb. ♢ Flexiune verbală = conjugare (2).… …   Dicționar Român

  • verbal — (Del lat. verbālis). 1. adj. Que se refiere a la palabra, o se sirve de ella. Memoria verbal. [m6]Expresión verbal. 2. Que se hace o estipula solo de palabra, y no por escrito. Injuria, contrato verbal. 3. Gram. Perteneciente o relativo al verbo …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • verbal — verb‧al [ˈvɜːbl ǁ ˈvɜːr ] adjective a verbal contract, agreement etc is one that is spoken rather than written: • The bank manager gave verbal assurances of the security of the investments. * * * verbal UK US /ˈvɜːbəl/ adjective ► spoken rather… …   Financial and business terms

  • verbal — has four meanings, all close enough to cause possible confusion: (1) ‘having the nature of a verb’ (verbal noun), (2) involving words rather than actual things • (Opposition between these two modes of speaking is rather verbal than real B. Jowett …   Modern English usage

  • verbal — Verbal, [verb]ale. Qui vient du verbe. Adjectif verbal. Substantif verbal. Verbal, signifie aussi, Qui n est que de vive voix, & non par escrit. Promesse verbale. requeste verbale. On appelle, Procez verbal, Un rapport par escrit, fait par un… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • verbal — [vʉr′bəl] adj. [LME < MFr < LL verbalis, of a word < verbum: see VERB] 1. of, in, or by means of words [a verbal image] 2. concerned merely with words, as distinguished from facts, ideas, or actions 3. in speech; oral rather than written …   English World dictionary

  • verbal — I adjective audible, expressed, nuncupative, oral, parole, pronounced, recited, spoken, stated, unwritten, uttered, verbum, voiced, vox associated concepts: Statute of Frauds, verbal acts, verbal agreements, verbal contracts, verbal gift, verbal… …   Law dictionary

  • verbal — (adj.) late 15c., dealing with words (especially in contrast to things or realities), from L. verbalis consisting of words, relating to verbs, from verbum word (see VERB (Cf. verb)). Verbal conditioning is recorded from 1954. Colloquial verbal… …   Etymology dictionary

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