verge 1
/verrj/ , n. , v. , verged, verging .
n.
1. the edge, rim, or margin of something: the verge of a desert; to operate on the verge of fraud.
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. Brit. 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. Hist. 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. Archit. the shaft of a column or colonette.
11. a rod, wand, or staff, esp. one carried as an emblem of authority or of the office of a bishop, dean, or the like.
12. Horol. a palletlike lever formerly used in inexpensive pendulum clocks.
13. Obs. a stick or wand held in the hand of a person swearing fealty to a feudal lord on being admitted as a tenant.
v.i.
14. to be on the edge or margin; border: Our property verges on theirs.
15. to come close to or be in transition to some state, quality, etc. (usually fol. by on ): a statesman who verged on greatness; a situation that verged on disaster.
v.t.
16. to serve as the verge or boundary of: a high hedge verging the yard.
[ 1350-1400; late ME: shaft, column, rod (hence boundary or jurisdiction symbolized by a steward's rod), ME: penis virga ]
Syn. 1. brim, lip, brink.
verge 2
/verrj/ , v.i. , verged, verging .
1. to incline; tend (usually fol. by to or toward ): The economy verges toward inflation.
2. to slope or sink.
[ 1600-10; vergere to turn, bend, be inclined ]