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Almost any singular noun can be verbed, transformed into a verb means to remove (skin), apply (paint), use (bus), or otherwise interact with the noun.

I'm looking for a plural noun that can be verbed. I have only two, frankly terrible, examples:

  • times, which has a very childish sound to my ears
  • mules, which refers to a surgical procedure performed on sheep, and is named for a Dr. Mules, and not the sturdy equine, although I assume the name of the eponymous vet originally derives from that animal.

Is there a true example? Tell me that to cats someone is a thing.

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3 Answers 3

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Yes, there are a few words that are like this, even more if both slang and obscure/obsolete words are included (that's actually most of the list). I found these with an advanced search on OED:

  • balls/bollocks (slang)
  • (de-)pants (slang)
  • discommons (historical & rare)
  • guts (colloquial)
  • quicksticks (slang, rare, & possibly formed from adj not noun)
  • sessions (slang)
  • suds
  • times (there is another, non-colloquial meaning in Building & Surveying)
  • twos (colloquial)

If you include irregular plurals, there is:

  • dice
  • people
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  • Hahaha -- I actually had pants on my list of verbed nouns and didn't notice it was a plural! Is ballsing a word? What does it mean? Jun 21, 2017 at 13:18
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I can think of a number off the top of my head:

  • cups
  • groups
  • heads
  • faces
  • numbers
  • plates
  • forks
  • spoons
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  • Hello, Nancy. ELU requires answers that are backed up by authoritative references (note that Laurel found those examples in the OED). Aug 29, 2019 at 20:47
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Numerals:
(the golfer) bogey-fived the eighth
(batsman) centuried with an off-drive.

collectives:
to regiment a collection of pencils;
to convoy a group of students;
to team up with a casual acquaintance;

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  • 2
    i'd add to sixtynine with someone?
    – P. O.
    Jun 21, 2017 at 0:49
  • 2
    A numeral is a numeral; I would not call it a plural noun.
    – herisson
    Jun 21, 2017 at 1:04
  • @P.O. -- I'm sure you would, but this isn't plentyoffish.com Jun 21, 2017 at 13:16

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