nonsense verse

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noun

a form of light verse, usually for children, depicting imaginative characters in amusing situations of fantasy, whimsical in tone and with a rhythmic appeal, often employing fanciful phrases and meaningless made-up words.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of nonsense verse

First recorded in 1790–1800

Words nearby nonsense verse

nonself, nonself-antigen, nonsense, nonsense correlation, nonsense syllable, nonsense verse, nonsensical, non seq., non sequitur, nonsexist, nonsexual

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nonsense verse in a sentence

It needs to be said: bigotry in the name of religion is still bigotry; child abuse wrapped in a Bible verse is still child abuse.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen|Parker Molloy|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
No more allowing people to justify their bigotry by spouting a cherry-picked Bible verse.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen|Parker Molloy|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I know the verse because Mrs. Bertalan used to have us do it in ninth-grade choir.
Yes, I Like Christmas Music. Stop Laughing.|Michael Tomasky|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Shortly thereafter, T.I. lent his first post-incarceration verse to a remix of “Magic.”
Future Makes Us Rethink Everything We Thought We Knew About Rap Artists|Luke Hopping|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The academic, historic, and geopolitical nonsense that Khomeinism equals Iran has lasted long enough.
The Nuclear Deal That Iran’s Regime Fears Most|Djavad Khadem|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the next verse is the last you needn't trouble yourself to make any further observations.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
Did he at all intrench upon your Sovereignty in Verse, because he had now and then written a Comedy that succeeded?
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope|Colley Cibber
I am of opinion too, that the Indecency of the next Verse, you spill upon me, would admit of an equal Correction.
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope|Colley Cibber
Only he had carved on the Girl's tombstone the last verse of the Song of the Girl, which stands at the head of this story.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
"Look here, old man, this superstitious nonsense is becoming an obsession to you," it said one fine April morning.
Uncanny Tales|Various

British Dictionary definitions for nonsense verse

nonsense verse

noun

verse in which the sense is nonexistent or absurd, such as that of Edward Lear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012