verge

¹

[vurj]

noun

1. the edge, rim, or margin of something.

   the verge of a desert; to operate on the verge of fraud.

   Synonyms: brink, lip, brim

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. British.,  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. History/Historical.,  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. Architecture.,  the shaft of a column or colonette.

11. a rod, wand, or staff, especially one carried as an emblem of authority or of the office of a bishop, dean, or the like.

12. Horology.,  a palletlike lever formerly used in inexpensive pendulum clocks.

13. Obsolete.,  a stick or wand held in the hand of a person swearing fealty to a feudal lord on being admitted as a tenant.

verb (used without object)

verged, verging 

1. to be on the edge or margin; border.

   Our property verges on theirs.

2. to come close to or be in transition to some state, quality, etc. (usually followed byon ).

   a statesman who verged on greatness; a situation that verged on disaster.

verb (used with object)

verged, verging 

1. to serve as the verge or boundary of.

   a high hedge verging the yard.

verge

²

[vurj]

verb (used without object)

verged, verging 

1. to incline; tend (usually followed by to ortoward ).

   The economy verges toward inflation.

2. to slope or sink.

verge

¹

/ vɜːdʒ /

noun

1. an edge or rim; margin

2. a limit beyond which something occurs; brink

   on the verge of ecstasy

3. a grass border along a road

4. an enclosing line, belt, or strip

5. architect the edge of the roof tiles projecting over a gable

6. architect the shaft of a classical column

7. an enclosed space

8. horology the spindle of a balance wheel in a vertical escapement, found only in very early clocks

9. English legal history

   1. the area encompassing the royal court that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Lord High Steward

   2. a rod or wand carried as a symbol of office or emblem of authority, as in the Church

   3. a rod held by a person swearing fealty to his lord on becoming a tenant, esp of copyhold land

verb

1. to be near (to)

   to verge on chaos

2. to serve as the edge of (something)

   this narrow strip verges the road

verge

²

/ vɜːdʒ /

verb

1. (intr; foll by to or towards) to move or incline in a certain direction

Word History and Origins

Origin of verge¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English virge, verge “shaft, column, rod (hence boundary or jurisdiction symbolized by a steward's rod), rod of office, penis,” from Middle French, from Latin virga “shoot, twig, branch, rod”

Origin of verge²

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin vergere “to turn, bend, be inclined”

Word History and Origins

Origin of verge¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin virga rod

Origin of verge²

C17: from Latin vergere

Idioms and Phrases

• on the verge of

Example Sentences

In “Floyd Collins,” Jeremy Jordan met the challenge of bringing vital life to a character on the verge of losing his—a cave explorer trapped underground—in director Tina Landau’s restrained but deeply moving production.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The initiative, supported by Netflix, aims to spotlight people within gaming, TV and film who are on the verge or in the middle of a breakthrough moment.

Read more on BBC

Slowly brushing his bow against the instrument, he closes his eyes, and looks almost on the verge of tears.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He is now on the verge of being promoted to the second-highest rank of Ozeki, in what would be the fastest promotion in history.

Read more on BBC

Nothing could bridge the gap - and the talks teetered on the verge of collapse.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• brink 
• edge 
• fringe 
• threshold