verge
Pronunciation: (vûrj), [key] — n., v., verged, verg•ing.
—n. - the edge, rim, or margin of something: the verge of a desert; to operate on the verge of fraud.
- the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; brink: on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
- a limiting belt, strip, or border of something.
- a narrow strip of turf bordering on a pathway, sidewalk, roadway, etc.
- a decorative border, as on or around an object, structural part, etc.
- limited room or scope for something: an action within the verge of one's abilities.
- an area or district subject to a particular jurisdiction.
- an area or district in England embracing the royal palace, being the jurisdiction of the Marshalsea Court.
- the part of a sloping roof that projects beyond the gable wall.
- the shaft of a column or colonette.
- a rod, wand, or staff, esp. one carried as an emblem of authority or of the office of a bishop, dean, or the like.
- a palletlike lever formerly used in inexpensive pendulum clocks.
- 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. - to be on the edge or margin; border: Our property verges on theirs.
- 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. - to serve as the verge or boundary of: a high hedge verging the yard.
verge
Pronunciation: (vûrj), [key] — verged, verg•ing.
- to incline; tend (usually fol. by to or toward): The economy verges toward inflation.
- to slope or sink.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.