verge

verge
    n 1: a region marking a boundary [syn: {brink}, {threshold},
         {verge}]
    2: the limit beyond which something happens or changes; "on the
       verge of tears"; "on the brink of bankruptcy" [syn: {verge},
       {brink}]
    3: a ceremonial or emblematic staff [syn: {scepter}, {sceptre},
       {verge}, {wand}]
    4: a grass border along a road
    v 1: border on; come close to; "His behavior verges on the
         criminal"
    

Verge \Verge\ (v[~e]rj), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Verged}
   (v[~e]rjd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Verging} (v[~e]r"j[i^]ng).] [L.
   vergere to bend, turn, incline; cf. Skr. v[.r]j to turn.]
   1. To border upon; to tend; to incline; to come near; to
      approach.
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   2. To tend downward; to bend; to slope; as, a hill verges to
      the north.
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            Our soul, from original instinct, vergeth towards
            him as its center.                    --Barrow.
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            I find myself verging to that period of life which
            is to be labor and sorrow.            --Swift.
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Verge \Verge\ (v[~e]rj), n. [F. verge, L. virga; perhaps akin to
   E. wisp.]
   1. A rod or staff, carried as an emblem of authority; as, the
      verge, carried before a dean.
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   2. The stick or wand with which persons were formerly
      admitted tenants, they holding it in the hand, and
      swearing fealty to the lord. Such tenants were called
      tenants by the verge. [Eng.]
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   3. (Eng. Law) The compass of the court of Marshalsea and the
      Palace court, within which the lord steward and the
      marshal of the king's household had special jurisdiction;
      -- so called from the verge, or staff, which the marshal
      bore.
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   4. A virgate; a yardland. [Obs.]
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   5. A border, limit, or boundary of a space; an edge, margin,
      or brink of something definite in extent.
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            Even though we go to the extreme verge of
            possibility to invent a supposition favorable to it,
            the theory . . . implies an absurdity. --J. S. Mill.
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            But on the horizon's verge descried,
            Hangs, touched with light, one snowy sail. --M.
                                                  Arnold.
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   6. A circumference; a circle; a ring.
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            The inclusive verge
            Of golden metal that must round my brow. --Shak.
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   7. (Arch.)
      (a) The shaft of a column, or a small ornamental shaft.
          --Oxf. Gloss.
      (b) The edge of the tiling projecting over the gable of a
          roof. --Encyc. Brit.
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   8. (Horol.) The spindle of a watch balance, especially one
      with pallets, as in the old vertical escapement. See under
      {Escapement}.
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   9. (Hort.)
      (a) The edge or outside of a bed or border.
      (b) A slip of grass adjoining gravel walks, and dividing
          them from the borders in a parterre.
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   10. The penis.
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   11. (Zool.) The external male organ of certain mollusks,
       worms, etc. See Illustration in Appendix.
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   Syn: Border; edge; rim; brim; margin; brink.
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174 Moby Thesaurus words for "verge":
      about to, abut, abut on, adjoin, aim, approach, armory, badge,
      badge of office, badges, bank, baton, be contiguous, be in contact,
      bear, befringe, bend to, bias, bind, blazonry, board, border,
      border line, border on, bordure, bound, boundaries, boundary,
      bounds, bourns, brassard, brim, brink, brow, butt, button,
      cap and gown, chain, chain of office, circumference,
      circumscription, class ring, coast, cockade, collar, communicate,
      compass, conduce, confines, conjoin, connect, contribute,
      coordinates, cross, decoration, dispose, draw, dress, eagle, edge,
      edges, emblems, enframe, ensigns, extend, fasces, featheredge,
      figurehead, flange, fleur-de-lis, frame, fringe, fringes, go,
      hammer and sickle, have a tendency, head, hem, heraldry,
      hold a heading, incline, insignia, join, labellum, labium, labrum,
      lap, lapel pin, lead, lean, ledge, lie by, limb, limbus,
      limitations, limits, line, lip, list, livery, look to, mace,
      mantle, march, marches, marge, margin, medal, metes,
      metes and bounds, mortarboard, move, neighbor, old school tie,
      outline, outlines, outskirts, pale, parameters, perimeter,
      periphery, pin, point, point to, purfle, purl, ragged edge,
      ready to, redound to, regalia, rim, ring, rose, school ring,
      selvage, serve, set, set off, set toward, shamrock, shore,
      show a tendency, side, sideline, sigillography, skirt, skirts,
      skull and crossbones, sphragistics, staff, stand by, steer,
      stretch, surround, swastika, tartan, tend, tend to, tend to go,
      thistle, threshold, tie, touch, trench, trend, trim, turn, uniform,
      verge on, verge upon, verges, wand, warp, work toward