The Wonderful World Of Words 1/26/17
Today's word is "TWATTLE".
DEFINITION:
Noun
- gossip
- chatter
ETYMOLOGY/ORIGIN:
-Late 16th century: perhaps an alteration of tattle. Dialectal, England
PRONUNCIATION:
/ˈtwɒtəl/
Listen
USAGE/EXAMPLES:
I no longer believe the TWATTLE of poverty and happiness—poverty pulls down the best and noblest while wealth makes them comfortable.
--American Alchemy: The California Gold Rush and Middle-Class Culture
by Brian Roberts, 2000
For notwithstanding the TWATTLE of Earl Grey at the end of his speech on the second reading of the Bill, he knows full well, as does likewise my Lord Brougham, that the exercise of the royal prerogative, in the creation of Peers, to anticipate the decision on a Bill pending in Parliament, would be an act of arbitrary power that would in fact subvert the Constitution.
--The Good Citizen; a Political and Literary Miscellany
Published by R. Dowson, Chandler's Lane, 1831
SYNONYMS:
- prate
- twaddle
- talkative
NEAR ANTONYMS:
- mute
- quiet
SCRABBLE SCORE
10
Do you engage in TWITTLE? Be honest, now! There are countless words that mean "gossip" or "trivial chatter". What are some of your favorites?
Follow me at @wwwords for more uncommon words to add to your ever-expanding lexicon and don't forget to read each daily installment!
1/25/17
1/24/17
1/23/17
1/22/17
1/21/17
1/20/17
1/19/17
1/18/17
1/17/17
1/16/17
1/15/17
1/14/17
1/13/17
Until then, I must bid you adieu!
*unless otherwise noted, all images are in the public domain and/or original
To prate. But that's because I'm Dutch, praten is "to talk".
"To blather" is a nice one too, it reminds me of the Dutch verb blaten ("to bleat").
Prate, yes! Also, to prattle on about something. I've always liked the word "blather" because the look and sound of the word feels to me the same as the meaning, plus I find it reminiscent of "blahblahblah....."
Thank you for reading, @ocrdu!