[ver.bal] adj [MF or LL; MF, fr. LL verbalis, fr. L verbum word] (15c) 1 a: of, relating to, or consisting of words "~ instructions" b: of, relating to, or involving words rather than meaning or substance "a consistency that is merely ~ and scholastic --B. N. Cardozo" c: consisting of or using words only and not involving action "a ~ protest"
2: of, relating to, or formed from a verb "a ~ adjective"
3: spoken rather than written "a ~ contract"
4: verbatim, word-for-word "a ~ translation"
5: of or relating to facility in the use and comprehension of words "~ aptitude" -- ver.bal.ly adv
[2]verbal n (1530): a word that combines characteristics of a verb with those of a noun or adjective--compare gerund, infinitive, participle