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.

verve

/ vɜːv /

noun

1. great vitality, enthusiasm, and liveliness; sparkle
2. a rare word for talent

Word History and Origins

Origin of verve¹

1690–1700; < French: enthusiasm, whim, chatter, apparently < Latin verba words, talk, plural (taken in VL as feminine singular) of verbum word; verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of verve¹

C17: from Old French: garrulity, from Latin verba words, chatter

Example Sentences

Wales, by contrast, were non-existent as an attacking force in the second half and will hope to rediscover their first-half verve when they face Montenegro in Cardiff on Monday.

From BBC

Celtic will try to unleash the hounds but attacking verve alone will get them nowhere on Tuesday.

From BBC

Her sparkling verve — which fans know through her portrayal of Emily — has seen different iterations across her accomplished career.

From Salon

There is a throwaway quote from Hitler, and visual jokes such as Morris igniting a cigarette with a burning light that provide the film with its irreverent verve.

From Salon

Mencken, who was a dab hand at writing with great verve about how much he hated just about everything.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gumption
• gusto
• intensity
• liveliness
• moxie
• passion
• pep
• sparkle
• spunk
• stamina
• toughness
• vigor
• vitality
• zeal
• zest