verge1

 
Pronunciation: /vəːdʒ/

noun

  • 1an edge or border: they came down to the verge of the lake
  • British a grass edging such as that by the side of a road or path: the grass verge outside the church
  • Architecture an edge of tiles projecting over a gable.
  • 2an extreme limit beyond which something specified will happen: I was on the verge of tears

verb

[no object] (verge on)
  • be very close or similar to: despair verging on the suicidal

Origin:

late Middle English: via Old French from Latin virga 'rod'. The current verb sense dates from the late 18th century