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verge1
/verrj/, n., v., verged, verging.n.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. Brit. 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.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. Hist. 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. Archit. the shaft of a column or colonette.11. a rod, wand, or staff, esp. one carried as an emblem of authority or of the office of a bishop, dean, or the like.12. Horol. a palletlike lever formerly used in inexpensive pendulum clocks.13. Obs. a stick or wand held in the hand of a person swearing fealty to a feudal lord on being admitted as a tenant.v.i.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 fol. by on): a statesman who verged on greatness; a situation that verged on disaster.v.t.16. to serve as the verge or boundary of: a high hedge verging the yard.[1350-1400; late ME: shaft, column, rod (hence boundary or jurisdiction symbolized by a steward's rod), ME: penis < MF: rod < L virga]Syn. 1. brim, lip, brink.verge2/verrj/, v.i., verged, verging.1. to incline; tend (usually fol. by to or toward): The economy verges toward inflation.2. to slope or sink.[1600-10; < L vergere to turn, bend, be inclined]
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Universalium. 2010.
