First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1verge
noun \ˈvərj\
: an area along the edge of a road, path, etc.
Full Definition of VERGE
1
a (1) : a rod or staff carried as an emblem of authority or symbol of office (2) obsolete : a stick or wand held by a person being admitted to tenancy while he swears fealty b : the spindle of a watch balance; especially : a spindle with pallets in an old vertical escapement c : the male copulatory organ of any of various invertebrates
2
a : something that borders, limits, or bounds: as (1) : an outer margin of an object or structural part (2) : the edge of roof covering (as tiling) projecting over the gable of a roof (3) British : a paved or planted strip of land at the edge of a road : shoulder b : brink, threshold <a country on the verge of destruction — Archibald MacLeish>
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Origin of VERGE
Middle English, rod, measuring rod, margin, from Anglo-French, rod, area of jurisdiction, from Latin virga twig, rod, line
2verge
verb
vergedverg·ing
Definition of VERGE
intransitive verb
1
: to be contiguous
2
: to be on the verge or border <the line where sentiment verges on mawkishness — Thomas Hardy>
First Known Use of VERGE
1787
3verge
verb
vergedverg·ing
Definition of VERGE
intransitive verb
1
a of the sun : to move or tend toward the horizon : sink b : to move or extend in some direction or toward some condition <verging to a hasty decline — Edward Gibbon>
2
: to be in transition or change
Origin of VERGE
Latin vergere to bend, incline — more at wrench
First Known Use: 1610
VERGE Defined for Kids
1verge
noun \ˈvərj\
Definition of VERGE for Kids
1
2
: something that borders, limits, or bounds : edge <the verge of a road>
2verge
verb
vergedverg·ing
Definition of VERGE for Kids
: to come near to being <This verges on madness.>
Medical Dictionary
verge
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