Etymology - Verbal

An important word for me, because in English usage, its meaning can be confused with vocal relating it to speech, rather than to words. It can find it hard to remember that non-verbal language can still be spoken, and conversely, that non spoken language (eg written or signed) can be verbal.

It comes from both old french (verbe) and latin (verbum) meaning word. Interestingly, many of the definitions of its adjectival usage point out it relating to mere words as distinct from real thing – there is a lingering distrust of the word.