Outsnore

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To make a noise while sleeping that is louder than someone else's during their slumber
2. To produce a more pronounced sound from the nose or mouth while resting than an accompanying sleeper
3. To emit a louder snoring sound than another person during sleep

Etymology: "Outsnore" is about as plain as English word-building gets: the prefix "out-" attached to the verb "snore," with the sense "to surpass someone in doing the thing named." Think of "outrun," "outshine," or "outwit," where "out-" means to do the action better or more than another. So to outsnore someone is to snore more loudly or more vigorously than they do. The base verb "snore" has a different kind of story. It comes from a Middle English verb, "snoren," which is related to Old Norse and to other Germanic words for breathing noisily or snorting. The sound it describes is onomatopoeic in spirit, and that imitative quality is why the word feels so physical when you say it aloud. Because "out-" is a productive prefix, English speakers can attach it to almost any action verb to create a comparative contest. "Outsnore" is a playful example, and its meaning is fully transparent from its parts.