nandhakumarms/qualc-wiktionary-en huggingface dataset:
Word: lean Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Probably from the verb to lean (see Etymology 1 above), supposedly because consumption of the intoxicating beverage causes one to lean or sway. Alternatively, from a clipping of gasoline (“an alcoholic beverage made of vodka and energy drink”). Pronunciation: /ˈliːn/, [ˈlɪi̯n] ~ [ˈlɪ̈i̯n] 1. A recreational drug composed of codeine-promethazine cough syrup mixed with usually soda and associated with the hip-hop culture of the Southern United States. Labels: US, slang, uncountable Example: Eyes real tight 'cause I'm chokin' the creep; vision messed up 'cause I'm drinkin' the lean. Example: "What's in the cup, let me see that / Girl, where the rest of that promethazine at?" / She said, "Cool, gotta run out to my Cadillac though / And I'll be like Fat Joe, and bring the lean back"
Word: leant Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /ˈlɛnt/ 1. simple past and past participle of lean Labels: UK, form-of, participle, past
Word: leaned Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /liːnd/, /lind/ 1. simple past and past participle of lean Labels: form-of, participle, past
Word: leapt Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /lɛpt/ 1. simple past and past participle of leap Labels: form-of, participle, past
Word: leaped Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /liːpt/ 1. simple past and past participle of leap Labels: form-of, participle, past
Word: diction Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From late Middle English diccion (“something said; a word or phrase”) (an obsolete sense in Modern English), borrowed directly from Latin dictiō (“a saying, speaking, uttering”) or from Old French dicïon (“word”) (Anglo-Norman dictyoun), from Late Latin dictiō (“word”), both from dīcō (“to say, to talk”) + -tiō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to show, to point out”). The modern senses of “choice and use of words” and “clarity of word choice” were likely influenced by additional senses of dictiō. Pronunciation: /ˈdɪk.ʃən/ 1. Choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: the identification of the poetic impulse with sonorous diction 2. The effectiveness and degree of clarity of word choice and expression. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: His poor diction meant that most of the audience didn't really understand the key points of the presentation. 3. Enunciation, pronunciation. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: codswallop Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Unknown. Attested from a 1959 episode of the UK TV series Hancock's Half Hour. The writers (Galton and Simpson) state that the phrase was in general use when the show was broadcast. A national TV appeal in the UK in 2006 failed to find earlier references, though a humorous newspaper column from 1947 does use the fictional name "Sir Aubrey Codswallop". Originally written (1963) codswallop; the spelling cod's wallop is later. Various etymologies are proposed from some sense of cod, such as from cod (“joke, imitation”) + -s- + wallop (“beer”) (slang), hence “imitation beer” (with interconsonantal -s- to ease pronunciation of -dw-), or from cod (“scrotum, as in codpiece”) + -s- + wallop (“to hit”), hence “to hit (with) the testicle bag,” or from cod (“fish”), hence perhaps some part of the fish, as used in the fishing industry. A frequently given etymology, although widely rejected as a folk etymology, derives it from Hiram Codd, British soft drink maker of the 1870s, known for the eponymous Codd-neck bottle, with the suggestion that codswallop is a derisive term for soft drinks by beer drinkers, from Codd’s + wallop (“beer”), thus sarcastically “Codd’s beer”. There is no evidence that early uses had this sense; the slang term wallop (“beer”) appeared after Codd’s lifetime, initial spellings (in print from 1963) do not reflect such a derivation (*Codd’s wallop and *coddswallop with -dd- are not found), and there is an 80-year gap between the proposed coinage and attestation. This is also the name given to the wooden device placed over the neck of a codd bottle and given a push (wallop) to dislodge the marble in the neck of the bottle. The word has also been used to describe the process of opening a codd bottle. Pronunciation: /ˈkɒdzˌwɒl.əp/ 1. Senseless talk or writing; nonsense; rubbish. Labels: Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, slang, uncountable Example: Tony: I was not. Sidney: Don’t give me that old codswallop. You were counting your money. Example: Just branding a programme as ‘rubbish’, ‘tripe’, or—there are a lot of these—‘codswallop’, gives little indication of what moved the viewer to write.
Word: codswallop Part of Speech: intj Etymology: Unknown. Attested from a 1959 episode of the UK TV series Hancock's Half Hour. The writers (Galton and Simpson) state that the phrase was in general use when the show was broadcast. A national TV appeal in the UK in 2006 failed to find earlier references, though a humorous newspaper column from 1947 does use the fictional name "Sir Aubrey Codswallop". Originally written (1963) codswallop; the spelling cod's wallop is later. Various etymologies are proposed from some sense of cod, such as from cod (“joke, imitation”) + -s- + wallop (“beer”) (slang), hence “imitation beer” (with interconsonantal -s- to ease pronunciation of -dw-), or from cod (“scrotum, as in codpiece”) + -s- + wallop (“to hit”), hence “to hit (with) the testicle bag,” or from cod (“fish”), hence perhaps some part of the fish, as used in the fishing industry. A frequently given etymology, although widely rejected as a folk etymology, derives it from Hiram Codd, British soft drink maker of the 1870s, known for the eponymous Codd-neck bottle, with the suggestion that codswallop is a derisive term for soft drinks by beer drinkers, from Codd’s + wallop (“beer”), thus sarcastically “Codd’s beer”. There is no evidence that early uses had this sense; the slang term wallop (“beer”) appeared after Codd’s lifetime, initial spellings (in print from 1963) do not reflect such a derivation (*Codd’s wallop and *coddswallop with -dd- are not found), and there is an 80-year gap between the proposed coinage and attestation. This is also the name given to the wooden device placed over the neck of a codd bottle and given a push (wallop) to dislodge the marble in the neck of the bottle. The word has also been used to describe the process of opening a codd bottle. Pronunciation: /ˈkɒdzˌwɒl.əp/ 1. Used to express disbelief: nonsense!; rubbish! Labels: Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, slang
Word: gerund Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Learned borrowing from Latin gerundium, from gerendus (“which is to be carried out”), future passive participle (gerundive) of gerō (“carry, bear”). Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɛɹənd/, /ˈd͡ʒɛɹʌnd/ 1. A verbal form that functions as a verbal noun. (In English, a gerund has the same spelling as a present participle, but functions differently; however, this distinction may be ambiguous or unclear and so is no longer made in some modern texts such as A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language and The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language) Example: Compounds in which gerunds are the second element look exactly like compounds in which present participles are the second element, but different principles of hyphenation apply. Example: Like any noun, the gerund functions as a subject, direct object, indirect object, object of the preposition, or predicate nominative. The gerund phrase is made up of the present participle ("-ing") and can contain an object and/or a modifier (and sometimes many modifiers). The gerund is a verbal noun. 2. In some languages such as Dutch, Italian or Russian, a verbal form similar to a present participle, but functioning as an adverb to form adverbial phrases or continuous tense. These constructions have various names besides gerund, depending on the language, such as conjunctive participles, active participles, adverbial participles, transgressives, etc. Example: The Spanish gerund is quite unlike the English -ing form (‘walking’, ‘replying’, ‘saying’, etc.), which can function as a gerund, a present participle, a noun or an adjective; and it is also unlike the French form ending in -ant, which covers the functions of both the Spanish gerund and the adjectival form in -ante, -(i)ente discussed at 19.4.
Word: learned Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English lerned, lernd, lernyd, equivalent to learn + -ed, which replaced the earlier lered (“taught”), from Old English (ġe)lǣred, past participle of lǣran (“to teach”). Learn formerly had the meaning “to teach”, which is now found only in nonstandard speech, as well as its standard meaning of “to learn”. Pronunciation: /ˈlɜːnɪd/, /ˈlɜːnd/, /ˈlɝnɪd/, /ˈlɝnd/ 1. Having much learning, knowledgeable, erudite; highly educated. Example: the learned Merlin, well could tell, / Vnder what coast of heauen the man did dwell […] Example: My learned Brother Cresswell directed the jury to make the calculation […] 2. A courteous description used in various ways to refer to lawyers or judges. Labels: formal 3. Scholarly, exhibiting scholarship. Example: But our limits will not permit us to discuss the many important and curious questions respecting the science of government, to which this learned work invites attention.
Word: learned Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Past participle of learn. Pronunciation: /lɜːnd/, /lɝnd/ 1. simple past and past participle of learn Labels: Canada, English, New-Zealand, US, dialectal, form-of, participle, past
Word: learned Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Past participle of learn. Pronunciation: /lɜːnd/, /lɝnd/ 1. Derived from experience; acquired by learning. Example: Everyday behavior is an overlay of learned behavior over instinct.
Word: learnt Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English lernd, lernde, equivalent to learn + -t. Pronunciation: /ˈlɜːnt/, /ˈlɝnt/ 1. simple past of learn Labels: Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, form-of, past Example: I learnt so many things in this school. 2. past participle of learn Labels: Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, form-of, participle, past Example: She has learnt to adapt to the changes quickly.
Word: leave Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English leven, from Old English lǣfan (“to leave”), from Proto-West Germanic *laibijan, from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to let stay, leave”), causative of *lībaną (“to stay, remain”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to stick; fat”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēva (“to leave”), dialectal Dutch loven (“to have left over, save, keep”), Old Saxon lēvian, Old High German leiban (“to leave”), Old Norse leifa (“to leave over”) (whence Icelandic leifa (“to leave food uneaten”), Swedish leva (“to leave”)), lifna (“to be left”) (whence Danish levne). More at lave, belive. The noun is attested since the 19th century, with earliest references to billiards. Pronunciation: /ˈliːv/, [ˈlɪi̯v] 1. The action of the batsman not attempting to play at the ball. Example: He made 45 leaves in his innings of 64. 2. The arrangement of balls in play that remains after a shot is made (which determines whether the next shooter — who may be either the same player, or an opponent — has good options, or only poor ones). Example: Having counted 38 points he tried a beautiful massé out of the corner, hit the first ball just a trifle too hard and kissed his own ball off just when victory seemed to be his. The leave was unfortunate for Ives. Slosson played brilliantly and ran the game out, a close winner, with 22 points. 3. The tiles remaining on a player's rack after his or her turn. Example: I didn't score much, but LING was a good leave.
Word: leave Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English leve, from Old English lēaf (“permission, privilege”), from Proto-Germanic *laubō, *laubą (“permission, privilege, favour, worth”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ- (“to love, hold dear”). Cognate with obsolete German Laube (“permission”), Swedish lov (“permission”), Icelandic leyfi (“permission”). Related to Dutch verlof, German Urlaub, Erlaubnis, Verlaub. See also love. Pronunciation: /ˈliːv/, [ˈlɪi̯v] 1. Permission to be absent; time away from one's work. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I've just been given three weeks' leave by my boss — I don't think I still have some leave owing to me. 2. Permission. Labels: countable, dated, uncountable Example: Might I beg leave to accompany you? Example: The applicant now seeks leave to appeal and, if leave be granted, to appeal against these sentences. 3. Farewell, departure. Labels: countable, dated, uncountable Example: I took my leave of the gentleman without a backward glance.
Word: leave Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English leven, from Old English līefan (“to allow, grant, concede; believe, trust, confide in”), from Proto-West Germanic *laubijan, from Proto-Germanic *laubijaną (“to allow, praise”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ- (“to love, hold dear”). Cognate with German erlauben (“to allow”), German glauben (“to believe”), Icelandic leyfa (“to allow”). Pronunciation: /ˈliːv/, [ˈlɪi̯v] 1. To give leave to; allow; permit; let; grant. Labels: transitive
Word: leave Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English leven, from lef (“leaf”). More at leaf. Pronunciation: /ˈliːv/, [ˈlɪi̯v] 1. To produce leaves or foliage. Labels: intransitive, rare Example: Each Morn a thousand Roses brings, you say: Yes, but where leaves the Rose of Yesterday?
Word: leave Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From French lever. Compare levy. Compare also Middle English leve, a variant of levy that may have been monosyllabic. Pronunciation: /ˈliːv/, [ˈlɪi̯v] 1. To raise; to levy. Labels: obsolete Example: […]au^([sic – meaning an]) army ſtrong ſhe leau'd,[…]
Word: lend Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From earlier len (with excrescent -d, as in sound), from Middle English lenen, lænen, from Old English lǣnan (“to lend; give, grant, lease”), from Proto-West Germanic *laihnijan, from Proto-Germanic *laihnijaną (“to loan”), from Proto-Germanic *laihną (“loan”), from Proto-Indo-European *leykʷ- (“to leave, leave over”). Cognate with Scots len, lend (“to lend”), West Frisian liene (“to lend, borrow, loan”), Dutch lenen (“to lend, borrow, loan”), Danish låne (“to lend, loan”), Swedish låna (“to lend, loan”), Icelandic lána (“to lend, loan”), Icelandic léna (“to grant”), Latin linquō (“quit, leave, forlet”), Ancient Greek λείπω (leípō, “leave, release”). See also loan. Pronunciation: /ˈlɛnd/, /ˈlɪ̟nd/, /ˈlend/ ~ /ˈlɛ̝nd/ 1. To allow to be used by someone temporarily, on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned. Labels: transitive Example: I will only lend you my car if you fill up the tank. Example: Where is that hundred euros I lent you months ago? 2. To make a loan. Labels: intransitive 3. To be suitable or applicable, to fit. Labels: reflexive Example: Poems do not lend themselves to translation easily. Example: The long history of the past does not lend itself to a simple black and white interpretation. 4. To afford; to grant or furnish in general. Example: Can you lend me some assistance? Example: The famous director lent his name to the new film. 5. To borrow. Labels: proscribed
Word: lend Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From earlier len (with excrescent -d, as in sound), from Middle English lenen, lænen, from Old English lǣnan (“to lend; give, grant, lease”), from Proto-West Germanic *laihnijan, from Proto-Germanic *laihnijaną (“to loan”), from Proto-Germanic *laihną (“loan”), from Proto-Indo-European *leykʷ- (“to leave, leave over”). Cognate with Scots len, lend (“to lend”), West Frisian liene (“to lend, borrow, loan”), Dutch lenen (“to lend, borrow, loan”), Danish låne (“to lend, loan”), Swedish låna (“to lend, loan”), Icelandic lána (“to lend, loan”), Icelandic léna (“to grant”), Latin linquō (“quit, leave, forlet”), Ancient Greek λείπω (leípō, “leave, release”). See also loan. Pronunciation: /ˈlɛnd/, /ˈlɪ̟nd/, /ˈlend/ ~ /ˈlɛ̝nd/ 1. Loan (permission to borrow (something)). Labels: dialectal, with-definite-article Example: “But,” says Arthur, “I wouldn't be proud of your clothes, / For you've only the lend of them, as I suppose.” Example: Yesterday asked Mr. Aray the lend of 8s. 6d. for a month.
Word: lend Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English lende (usually in plural as lendes, leendes, lyndes), from Old English lendenu, lendino (“loins”), plural of Old English lenden (“loin”), from Proto-West Germanic *landī, from Proto-Germanic *landį̄ (“loin”), from Proto-Indo-European *lendʰ- (“loin, kidney”). Cognate with Scots lend, leynd (“the loins, flank, buttocks”), Dutch lendenen (“loins, reins”), German Lenden (“loins”), Swedish länder (“loins”), Danish lænd (“loin”), Icelandic lendar (“loins”), Latin lumbus (“loin”) (whence loin), Polish lędźwie (“loins”), Russian ля́двея (ljádveja, “thigh, haunch”). Pronunciation: /ˈlɛnd/, /ˈlɪ̟nd/, /ˈlend/ ~ /ˈlɛ̝nd/ 1. The lumbar region; loin. Labels: UK, dialectal 2. The loins; flank; buttocks. Labels: UK, dialectal
Word: lent Part of Speech: noun Pronunciation: /lɛnt/ 1. Alternative letter-case form of Lent. Labels: alt-of, countable, uncountable
Word: lent Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /lɛnt/ 1. simple past and past participle of lend Labels: form-of, participle, past
Word: let Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Derived from Middle English leten, læten, from Old English lǣtan (“to allow, let go, bequeath, leave, rent”), from Proto-West Germanic *lātan, from Proto-Germanic *lētaną (“to leave behind, allow”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- (“to be tired, leave”). Cognates Cognate with Scots lat, lete (“to let, leave”), Yola leth (“let”), North Frisian leet, let, lätje (“to let”), Bavarian låssn (“to let”), Dutch, Low German laten (“to let, leave”), German lassen, laßen (“to let, leave, allow”), Luxembourgish loossen (“to let, leave”), Yiddish לאָזן (lozn, “to let”), Danish lade (“to let, allow, leave”), Faroese, Icelandic láta (“to let”), Norwegian Bokmål la (“to let, leave”), Norwegian Nynorsk la, lata, late (“let, allow”), Swedish låta (“to let, allow, leave”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐍄𐌰𐌽 (lētan, “to let”), Albanian lë (“to allow, let, leave”) and partially related to French laisser (“to let”). Pronunciation: /lɛt/ 1. To allow to, not to prevent (+ infinitive, but usually without to). Labels: transitive Example: After he knocked for hours, I decided to let him come in. Example: Pharaoh said, I will let you go. 2. To allow to be or do without interference; to not disturb or meddle with; to leave alone. Labels: transitive Example: Let me be! Example: Yet neither spinnes nor cardes, ne cares nor frets, / But to her mother Nature all her care she lets. 3. To allow the release of (a fluid). Labels: transitive Example: The physicians let about a pint of his blood, but to no avail. 4. To allow possession of (a property etc.) in exchange for rent. Labels: UK, transitive Example: I decided to let the farmhouse to a couple while I was working abroad. Example: “My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?” Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. “But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.” 5. To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; often with out. Labels: transitive Example: to let the building of a bridge; to let out the lathing and the plastering 6. Used to introduce a first or third person imperative verb construction. Labels: auxiliary, transitive Example: Let's put on a show! Example: Let us have a moment of silence. 7. To cause (+ bare infinitive). Labels: transitive Example: Can you let me know what time you'll be arriving? Example: Soo within a whyle kynge Pellinore cam with a grete hoost and salewed the peple and the kyng and ther was grete ioye made on euery syde. Thenne the kyng lete serche how moche people of his party ther was slayne. And ther were founde but lytel past two honderd men slayne and viij knyȝtes of the table round in their pauelions.
Word: let Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Derived from Middle English leten, læten, from Old English lǣtan (“to allow, let go, bequeath, leave, rent”), from Proto-West Germanic *lātan, from Proto-Germanic *lētaną (“to leave behind, allow”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- (“to be tired, leave”). Cognates Cognate with Scots lat, lete (“to let, leave”), Yola leth (“let”), North Frisian leet, let, lätje (“to let”), Bavarian låssn (“to let”), Dutch, Low German laten (“to let, leave”), German lassen, laßen (“to let, leave, allow”), Luxembourgish loossen (“to let, leave”), Yiddish לאָזן (lozn, “to let”), Danish lade (“to let, allow, leave”), Faroese, Icelandic láta (“to let”), Norwegian Bokmål la (“to let, leave”), Norwegian Nynorsk la, lata, late (“let, allow”), Swedish låta (“to let, allow, leave”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐍄𐌰𐌽 (lētan, “to let”), Albanian lë (“to allow, let, leave”) and partially related to French laisser (“to let”). Pronunciation: /lɛt/ 1. The allowing of possession of a property etc. in exchange for rent. Example: Then he says “You would call it a Good Let, Madam?” “O certainly a Good Let sir.”
Word: let Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Derived from Middle English letten (“to hinder, delay”), from Old English lettan (“to hinder, delay”; literally, “to make late”), from Proto-West Germanic *lattjan, from Proto-Germanic *latjaną. Akin to Old English latian (“to delay”), Dutch letten, Old English læt (“late”). More at late, delay. Pronunciation: /lɛt/ 1. To hinder, prevent, impede, hamper, cumber; to obstruct (someone or something). Labels: archaic Example: He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. Example: Sir King, mine ancient wound is hardly whole, / And lets me from the saddle; […] 2. To prevent someone from doing something; also to prevent something from happening. Labels: obsolete Example: & there was syr Mordred redy awaytynge vpon his londage to lette his owne fader to lāde vp the lande that he was kyng ouer. "And there was Sir Mordred ready awaiting upon his landing, to let his own father to land upon the land that he was king over." Example: And as they went on their waye, they cam unto a certayne water, and the gelded man sayde: Se here is water, what shall lett me to be baptised? 3. To tarry or delay. Labels: obsolete Example: And for that strake I would not let, / Another upon him soon I set, […]
Word: let Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Derived from Middle English letten (“to hinder, delay”), from Old English lettan (“to hinder, delay”; literally, “to make late”), from Proto-West Germanic *lattjan, from Proto-Germanic *latjaną. Akin to Old English latian (“to delay”), Dutch letten, Old English læt (“late”). More at late, delay. Pronunciation: /lɛt/ 1. An obstacle or hindrance. Labels: obsolete Example: without let or hindrance Example: [E]ver conſider vvhether our doings be to the let of our ſalvation or not. 2. The hindrance caused by the net during serve, only if the ball falls legally.
Word: lie Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English lien, liggen, from Old English liċġan, from Proto-West Germanic *liggjan, from Proto-Germanic *ligjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-. Cognates Cognate with Yola lee, lidge (“to lie”), leigh, leiough (“to idle”), North Frisian lade, lai, laie, lei, lii, läde, läie (“to lie; to lay”), Saterland Frisian lääse (“to lie; to lay”), West Frisian lizze (“to lie”), Alemannic German ligge (“to lie”), Central Franconian lijje (“to lie”), Dutch and Dutch Low Saxon liggen (“to lie”), German liegen (“to lie”), German Low German ligge, liggen (“to lie”), Luxembourgish leien (“to lie”), Yiddish ליגן (lign, “to lie”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål ligge (“to lie”), Faroese and Icelandic liggja (“to lie”), Norwegian Nynorsk ligge, liggja, liggje (“to lie”), Swedish ligga (“to lie”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (ligan, “to lie, to rest”); and with Irish laigh, luigh (“to lie”), Manx lhie (“lie; lay”), Scottish Gaelic laigh (“lie; lay”), Faliscan 𐌋𐌄𐌂𐌄𐌕 (lecet, “he lies down”), Latin lectus (“bed”), South Picene 𐌅𐌄𐌉𐌀𐌕 (veiat, “to lie”), Ancient Greek λέχομαι (lékhomai, “to lie down”), Albanian lag (“band, encampment, troop”), Belarusian ляжа́ць (ljažácʹ, “to lie”), Bulgarian лежа́ (ležá, “to lie”), Czech ležet (“to lie”), Macedonian лежи (leži, “to lie”), Polish leżeć (“to lie”), Russian лежа́ть (ležátʹ, “to lie”), Serbo-Croatian лѐжати, lèžati (“to lie”), Slovene ležáti (“to lie”), Ukrainian лежа́ти (ležáty, “to lie”), Tocharian B lyäk- (“to lie”). As a noun for position, the noun has the same etymology above as the verb. Pronunciation: /laɪ̯/ 1. The terrain and conditions surrounding the ball before it is struck. 2. The terrain and conditions surrounding the disc before it is thrown. 3. The position of a fetus in the womb. 4. A manner of lying; relative position. 5. An animal's lair.
Word: lie Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English lien (“to lie, tell a falsehood”), from Old English lēogan (“to lie”), from Proto-West Germanic *leugan, from Proto-Germanic *leuganą (“to lie”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewgʰ- (“to announce, tell publicly”). Cognates Cognate with Scots lee (“to lie”), North Frisian jooge, leeg, löög (“to lie”), Saterland Frisian ljooge (“to lie”), West Frisian lige (“to lie”), Bavarian liagn (“to lie”), Dutch liegen (“to lie”), German lügen (“to lie”), Luxembourgish léien (“to lie”), Danish lyve (“to lie”), Faroese lúgva (“to lie”), Icelandic ljúga (“to lie”), Norwegian Bokmål juge, lyge, lyve (“to lie”), Norwegian Nynorsk ljuga, ljuge, lyga, lyge (“to lie”), Scanian ljuğa (“to lie”), Swedish ljuga (“to lie”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌲𐌰𐌽 (liugan, “to lie”); also Breton le (“vow”), Cornish li (“oath”), Welsh llw (“oath, pledge, vow; curse, swear word”), Latvian lùgt (“to ask; to request; to seek; to plead; to solicit; to invoke; to desire”), Belarusian ілга́ць (ilhácʹ), лга́ць (lhácʹ, “to lie”), Bulgarian лъжа (lǎža, “to lie”), Czech lhát (“to lie”), Kashubian łżec (“to lie”), Macedonian ла́же (láže, “to lie”), Polish łgać (“to lie”), Russian лгать (lgatʹ, “to lie”), Serbo-Croatian ла̀гати, làgati (“to lie”), Slovak luhať (“to lie”), Slovene lagáti (“to lie”). Pronunciation: /laɪ̯/ 1. To give false information intentionally with intent to deceive. Labels: intransitive Example: When Pinocchio lies, his nose grows. Example: If you are found to have lied in court, you could face a penalty. 2. To convey a false image or impression. Labels: intransitive Example: Photographs often lie. 3. To be mistaken or unintentionally spread false information. Labels: colloquial, intransitive Example: Sorry, I haven't seen your keys anywhere...wait, I lied! They're right there on the coffee table. Example: Well, he was up in Wyoming / And drew a bull no man could ride / He promised her he'd turn out / Well, it turned out that he lied
Word: lie Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English lie, from Old English lyġe (“lie”), from Proto-Germanic *lugiz (“lie”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewgʰ- (“to announce, tell publicly”). Cognates Cognate with Saterland Frisian Löägene (“a lie”), Dutch leugen, logen, loogen (“a lie”), German Lug, Lüge, Lügen (“a lie”), German Low German Lögen (“a lie”), Luxembourgish Ligen (“a lie”), Yiddish ליגן (lign, “a lie”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål løgn (“a lie”), Icelandic lygi, lygn (“a lie”), Norwegian Nynorsk lygn, løgn (“a lie”), Swedish lögn (“a lie”); also Bulgarian лъжа́ (lǎžá, “а lie”), Czech lež (“a lie”), Russian ложь (ložʹ, “а lie”), Polish łeż (“a lie”), Serbo-Croatian ла̑ж, laž (“a lie”), Slovak lož (“a lie”), Slovene lȃž (“a lie”). Pronunciation: /laɪ̯/ 1. An intentionally false statement; an intentional falsehood. Example: I knew he was telling a lie by his facial expression. Example: Man everywhere is the born enemy of lies. 2. A statement intended to deceive, even if literally true. 3. Anything that misleads or disappoints. Labels: broadly Example: Wishing this lie of life was o'er. Example: The cake is a lie. 4. A liar; a dishonest person. Labels: slang
Word: lain Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Inflected forms. Pronunciation: /leɪn/ 1. past participle of lie (“to be oriented in a horizontal position, situated”) Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: He had lain there for many hours. Example: The book had lain on the attic floor until it was found decades later. 2. past participle of lay (“to put down”) Labels: form-of, nonstandard, participle, past
Word: lain Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English lainen, leynen, from Old Norse leyna (“to conceal”) and Old English līeġnan (“to deny; conceal”); both from Proto-Germanic *laugnijaną, from Proto-Germanic *laugnō (“secrecy”). Pronunciation: /leɪn/ 1. To conceal, keep quiet about. Labels: obsolete Example: Also broder sir Agrauayne and sir mordred in lyke wyse sir Launcelot rescowed yow bothe and thre score and two from sir Turquyn / Me thynketh broder suche kynde dedes and kyndenes shold be remembryd / doo as ye lyst sayd syr Agrauayne for I wylle layne it no lenger
Word: lied Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from German Lied (“song”). Doublet of leed, which was inherited by Old English lēoþ (“poem”). Pronunciation: /liːd/ 1. An art song, usually sung solo in German and accompanied on the piano.
Word: lied Part of Speech: verb Etymology: See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. Pronunciation: /laɪd/ 1. simple past and past participle of lie (in the sense "to give false information intentionally") Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: “They put on an unemotional face but they're concerned, all right,” he said. “I lied, you know, and they know it. At least Sam knows it. This just might not be so routine a procedure. But we have to go in, and right now.[…]
Word: participle Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English participle, from Old French participle (1388), variant of participe, from Latin participium. Pronunciation: /pɑːˈtɪsɪpəl/, /ˈpɑːtɪsɪpəl/, /ˈpɑɹtɪˌsɪpəl/, /paɾˈtɪsɪpəl/, /ˈpaɾtɪsɪpəl/ 1. A form of a verb that may function as an adjective, noun or adverb. English has two types of participles: the present participle and the past participle. In other languages, there are others, such as future, perfect, and future perfect participles.
Word: part of speech Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English parte of spech, a calque of Latin pars ōrātiōnis. 1. A linguistic category of words sharing syntactic or morphological behaviour and semantic properties, such as noun or verb. Example: PARTS OF SPEECH. There are ten parts of speech, viz. Article, Substantive or Noun, Adjective, Numeral, Pronoun, Verb, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction, and Interjection. Example: 322. The parts of speech which are neither declined nor conjugated, are called by the general name of particles. 323. They are adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.
Word: light Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English lighten, lihten, from Old English līehtan (“to light, to shine”), from Proto-Germanic *liuhtijaną, from *leuhtą + *-janą. Cognate with German leuchten (“to shine”). Pronunciation: /laɪt/, [laɪt], [lɑjt], [ɫɐɪt], [ləjt] 1. To start (a fire). Labels: transitive Example: We lit the fire to get some heat. 2. To set fire to; to set burning. Labels: transitive Example: She lit her last match. Example: if a thousand candles be all lighted from one 3. To illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark. Labels: transitive Example: I used my torch to light the way home through the woods in the night. Example: 19th century', Frederic Harrison, The Fortnightly Review One hundred years ago, to have lit this theatre as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds. 4. To become ignited; to take fire. Labels: intransitive Example: This soggy match will not light. 5. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light. Example: His bishops lead him forth, and light him on. 6. To make (a bonus) available to be collected by hitting a target, and thus light up the feature light corresponding to that bonus to indicate its availability. Labels: transitive Example: Light the extra ball by amassing 500 million points in the wizard mode.
Word: light Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English light, liht, leoht, from Old English lēoht (“luminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent, renowned, beautiful”), from Proto-Germanic *leuhtaz (“light”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“light”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian ljoacht (“light”), Dutch licht, German licht. Pronunciation: /laɪt/, [laɪt], [lɑjt], [ɫɐɪt], [ləjt] 1. Having light; bright; clear; not dark or obscure. Example: The room is light when the Sun shines through the window. Example: Historic England explained the listing: "The station's unique design employs a high level of sophistication and innovation through its use of conoid shells supported on a cruck-like frame, which not only create a dramatic aesthetic form, but endow the building with a light and spacious interior." 2. Pale or whitish in color; highly luminous and more or less deficient in chroma. Example: She had light skin. Example: 'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the Sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed. 3. Served with extra milk or cream. Example: I like my coffee light.
Word: light Part of Speech: adv Etymology: From Middle English liȝt, lyghte, from Old English lēht, lēoht, līht, from Proto-West Germanic *lį̄ht, from Proto-Germanic *linhtaz or *līhtaz (“light (in weight)”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ- (“lightweight”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch licht (“light (not heavy)”), German leicht (“light (not heavy)”), Luxembourgish liicht (“lightweight”), Vilamovian łajcht (“easy”), Yiddish לײַכט (laykht, “light (of low weight)”), Danish let (“light (not heavy)”), Faroese lættur (“light (of weight); easy (to do)”), Icelandic léttur (“light (not weighing much); easy”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk lett (“light (not heavy); easy”), Swedish lätt (“light; of low weight”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃 (leihts, “light (in weight)”); also Irish léim (“jump, leap; obstacle to be jumped; chasm, promontory”), Scottish Gaelic leum, lèim (“bound, frisk, leap; jump”), Welsh llai (“smaller; fewer, less”), Latin levis (“light (not heavy)”), Greek ελαφρός (elafrós, “lightweight; slight, thin, weak”), Albanian lehtë (“lightweight; easy”), Lithuanian lengvas (“light (not heavy); easy”), Belarusian лёгкі (ljóhki, “light (not heavy); easy”), Bulgarian and Macedonian лек (lek, “light (not heavy)”), Czech lehký (“light (of low weight); easy”), Polish lekki, lętki (“light (having little physical weight); easy (not demanding much effort; not difficult)”), Russian лёгкий (ljóxkij, “lightweight; easy”), Serbo-Croatian ла̏к, ла̏ган, lȁk, lȁgan (“easy; light (not heavy)”), Slovak ľahký (“light (of low weight); easy”), Slovene lahek (“light (of low weight); easy”), Ukrainian легки́й (lehkýj, “lightweight”), Armenian լանջ (lanǰ), լանջք (lanǰkʻ, “breast; mountain slope”), Persian لاغر (lâġar, “lithe; skinny; slender; thin”), Tocharian B lankᵤtse (“light (not heavy)”), Sanskrit लघु (laghu), रघु (raghu, “easy, light, not heavy or difficult”). Pronunciation: /laɪt/, [laɪt], [lɑjt], [ɫɐɪt], [ləjt] 1. Carrying little. Example: I prefer to travel light.
Word: light Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English liȝt, lyghte, from Old English lēht, lēoht, līht, from Proto-West Germanic *lį̄ht, from Proto-Germanic *linhtaz or *līhtaz (“light (in weight)”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ- (“lightweight”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch licht (“light (not heavy)”), German leicht (“light (not heavy)”), Luxembourgish liicht (“lightweight”), Vilamovian łajcht (“easy”), Yiddish לײַכט (laykht, “light (of low weight)”), Danish let (“light (not heavy)”), Faroese lættur (“light (of weight); easy (to do)”), Icelandic léttur (“light (not weighing much); easy”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk lett (“light (not heavy); easy”), Swedish lätt (“light; of low weight”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃 (leihts, “light (in weight)”); also Irish léim (“jump, leap; obstacle to be jumped; chasm, promontory”), Scottish Gaelic leum, lèim (“bound, frisk, leap; jump”), Welsh llai (“smaller; fewer, less”), Latin levis (“light (not heavy)”), Greek ελαφρός (elafrós, “lightweight; slight, thin, weak”), Albanian lehtë (“lightweight; easy”), Lithuanian lengvas (“light (not heavy); easy”), Belarusian лёгкі (ljóhki, “light (not heavy); easy”), Bulgarian and Macedonian лек (lek, “light (not heavy)”), Czech lehký (“light (of low weight); easy”), Polish lekki, lętki (“light (having little physical weight); easy (not demanding much effort; not difficult)”), Russian лёгкий (ljóxkij, “lightweight; easy”), Serbo-Croatian ла̏к, ла̏ган, lȁk, lȁgan (“easy; light (not heavy)”), Slovak ľahký (“light (of low weight); easy”), Slovene lahek (“light (of low weight); easy”), Ukrainian легки́й (lehkýj, “lightweight”), Armenian լանջ (lanǰ), լանջք (lanǰkʻ, “breast; mountain slope”), Persian لاغر (lâġar, “lithe; skinny; slender; thin”), Tocharian B lankᵤtse (“light (not heavy)”), Sanskrit लघु (laghu), रघु (raghu, “easy, light, not heavy or difficult”). Pronunciation: /laɪt/, [laɪt], [lɑjt], [ɫɐɪt], [ləjt] 1. A stone that is not thrown hard enough. 2. See lights (“lungs”). 3. A low-alcohol lager. Labels: Australia, uncountable Example: We crossed to the pub on the corner of Carlisle Street and I ordered two schooners of old for him and one of light for me. 4. A member of the light cavalry. Labels: historical
Word: light Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English liȝt, lyghte, from Old English lēht, lēoht, līht, from Proto-West Germanic *lį̄ht, from Proto-Germanic *linhtaz or *līhtaz (“light (in weight)”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ- (“lightweight”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch licht (“light (not heavy)”), German leicht (“light (not heavy)”), Luxembourgish liicht (“lightweight”), Vilamovian łajcht (“easy”), Yiddish לײַכט (laykht, “light (of low weight)”), Danish let (“light (not heavy)”), Faroese lættur (“light (of weight); easy (to do)”), Icelandic léttur (“light (not weighing much); easy”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk lett (“light (not heavy); easy”), Swedish lätt (“light; of low weight”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃 (leihts, “light (in weight)”); also Irish léim (“jump, leap; obstacle to be jumped; chasm, promontory”), Scottish Gaelic leum, lèim (“bound, frisk, leap; jump”), Welsh llai (“smaller; fewer, less”), Latin levis (“light (not heavy)”), Greek ελαφρός (elafrós, “lightweight; slight, thin, weak”), Albanian lehtë (“lightweight; easy”), Lithuanian lengvas (“light (not heavy); easy”), Belarusian лёгкі (ljóhki, “light (not heavy); easy”), Bulgarian and Macedonian лек (lek, “light (not heavy)”), Czech lehký (“light (of low weight); easy”), Polish lekki, lętki (“light (having little physical weight); easy (not demanding much effort; not difficult)”), Russian лёгкий (ljóxkij, “lightweight; easy”), Serbo-Croatian ла̏к, ла̏ган, lȁk, lȁgan (“easy; light (not heavy)”), Slovak ľahký (“light (of low weight); easy”), Slovene lahek (“light (of low weight); easy”), Ukrainian легки́й (lehkýj, “lightweight”), Armenian լանջ (lanǰ), լանջք (lanǰkʻ, “breast; mountain slope”), Persian لاغر (lâġar, “lithe; skinny; slender; thin”), Tocharian B lankᵤtse (“light (not heavy)”), Sanskrit लघु (laghu), रघु (raghu, “easy, light, not heavy or difficult”). Pronunciation: /laɪt/, [laɪt], [lɑjt], [ɫɐɪt], [ləjt] 1. To unload a ship, or to jettison material to make it lighter. 2. To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off. Example: His mailèd habergeon she did undight, / And from his head his heavy burgonet did light. 3. To leave; to depart. Labels: broadly
Word: light Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English lighten, from Old English līhtan (“to relieve”), from Proto-West Germanic *lį̄htijan, from Proto-Germanic *linhtijaną, from *linhtaz (“light”). Pronunciation: /laɪt/, [laɪt], [lɑjt], [ɫɐɪt], [ləjt] 1. To find by chance. Example: I lit upon a rare book in a second-hand bookseller's. 2. To stop upon (of eyes or a glance); to notice. Example: "Sacredam!" he cried, when his eyes lit upon Buck. "Dat one dam bully dog! Eh? How moch?" 3. To alight; to land or come down. Labels: archaic Example: She fell out of the window but luckily lit on her feet. Example: [W]e knew not what Courſe to take, but the Creatures [wolves] reſolv'd us ſoon, for they gather'd about us preſently, in Hopes of Prey, […] I drew my little Troop in among thoſe Trees, and placing our ſelves in a Line, behind one long Tree, I advis'd them all to light, and keeping that Tree before us, for a Breaſt-Work, to ſtand in a Triangle, or three Fronts, encloſing our Horſes in the Center.
Word: lit Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Alteration of earlier light, from Middle English lighte, from Old English līhtte, first and third person singular preterite of līhtan (“to light”), by analogy with bit. More at light; compare fit (“fought”). This form was proscribed during the 18th and 19th centuries, with lighted being preferred, but is now the most common past form of light. Pronunciation: /ˈlɪt/ 1. simple past and past participle of light (“illuminate; start a fire; etc”) Labels: form-of, participle, past 2. simple past and past participle of light (“alight: land, come down on”) Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: […] but finally [the bird] came to the tree and, after edging along falteringly, lit on a branch above them.
Word: lit Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Alteration of earlier light, from Middle English lighte, from Old English līhtte, first and third person singular preterite of līhtan (“to light”), by analogy with bit. More at light; compare fit (“fought”). This form was proscribed during the 18th and 19th centuries, with lighted being preferred, but is now the most common past form of light. Pronunciation: /ˈlɪt/ 1. To run or light (alight). Labels: US, dialectal Example: With that the kid lits off down the street, and, what do you know!
Word: lit Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Alteration of earlier light, from Middle English lighte, from Old English līhtte, first and third person singular preterite of līhtan (“to light”), by analogy with bit. More at light; compare fit (“fought”). This form was proscribed during the 18th and 19th centuries, with lighted being preferred, but is now the most common past form of light. Pronunciation: /ˈlɪt/ 1. Illuminated. Example: He walked down the lit corridor. 2. Drunk, intoxicated; under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Labels: slang Example: True to my word last night, I got very lit. 3. Sexually aroused, (especially) visibly so. Labels: slang, usually 4. Exciting, captivating; fun. Labels: slang Example: This party is gonna be lit. Example: DJ sets so lit the dance floor's dripping with sweat? 5. Excellent, fantastic; cool. Labels: slang Example: Those jeans are lit. Example: […] will keep your feet looking lit this summer thanks to the Trainer Exchange.
Word: lit Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English lit, lut, from Old English lȳt (“little, few”), from Proto-Germanic *lūtilaz (“little, small”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (“to cower, hunch over”). Cognate with Old Saxon lut (“little”), Middle High German lützen (“to make small or low, decrease”). More at little. Pronunciation: /ˈlɪt/ 1. Little. Labels: obsolete
Word: lit Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English lit, lut, from Old English lȳt (“little, few”), from Proto-Germanic *lūtilaz (“little, small”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (“to cower, hunch over”). Cognate with Old Saxon lut (“little”), Middle High German lützen (“to make small or low, decrease”). More at little. Pronunciation: /ˈlɪt/ 1. Little. Labels: obsolete, uncountable
Word: lit Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English lit, from Old Norse litr (“colour, dye, complexion, face, countenance”), from Proto-Germanic *wlitiz, *wlitaz (“sight, face”), from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (“to see”). Cognate with Icelandic litur (“colour”), Old English wlite (“brightness, appearance, form, aspect, look, countenance, beauty, splendor, adornment”), Old English wlītan (“to gaze, look, observe”). Pronunciation: /ˈlɪt/ 1. Colour; blee; dye; stain. Labels: UK, dialectal, uncountable
Word: lit Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English litten, liten, from Old Norse lita (“to colour”), from litr (“colour”). See above. Pronunciation: /ˈlɪt/ 1. To colour; dye. Labels: transitive
Word: lit Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Short for literature. Pronunciation: /ˈlɪt/ 1. Clipping of literature. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, uncountable Example: Do we have any lit homework tonight?
Word: lighted Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /ˈlaɪtəd/ 1. simple past and past participle of light Labels: form-of, participle, past, uncommon
Word: lighted Part of Speech: adj Pronunciation: /ˈlaɪtəd/ 1. Filled with light; illuminated.
Word: past participle Part of Speech: noun Pronunciation: /ˈpæst pɑː(ɹ)ˈtɪsɪpəl/, /ˈpɑːst pɑː(ɹ)ˈtɪsɪpəl/ 1. A participle indicating a completed action or state.
Word: inflect Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Latin īnflectō, from in- (“in”) + flectō (“to bend”). Pronunciation: /ɪnˈflɛkt/ 1. To cause to curve inwards. Labels: transitive 2. To change the tone or pitch of the voice when speaking or singing. Labels: transitive Example: The actress has a great skill of being able to inflect her voice to any situation. 3. To vary the form of a word to express tense, gender, number, mood, etc. Labels: transitive 4. To be varied in the form to express tense, gender, number, mood, etc. Labels: intransitive Example: In Latin, adjectives and nouns inflect a lot, but inflection is minimally found in Modern English.
Word: natter Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From a Northern England dialectal variant of gnatter (also knatter) ("to chatter, grumble; nibble away at"), ultimately of imitative origin. Cognate with German Low German gnattern (“to mumble, grumble, be grouchy”). Pronunciation: /ˈnætɚ/, /ˈnætə/ 1. To talk casually; to discuss unimportant matters. Labels: colloquial Example: What are you guys nattering about? You're clearly not following the meeting! 2. To nag. Labels: Scotland
Word: natter Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From a Northern England dialectal variant of gnatter (also knatter) ("to chatter, grumble; nibble away at"), ultimately of imitative origin. Cognate with German Low German gnattern (“to mumble, grumble, be grouchy”). Pronunciation: /ˈnætɚ/, /ˈnætə/ 1. Mindless and irrelevant chatter. Labels: colloquial
Word: drivel Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English dravel, dribil, a deverbal from drevelen, drivelen (Etymology 2). Pronunciation: /dɹɪv.əl/, /dɹəv.əl/ 1. Nonsense; senseless talk. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: “You pay too much attention to such insipid drivel in even mentioning it.” Example: But what drivel I am writing! It is just an attempt to pass the weary time. 2. Saliva, drool. Labels: countable, rare, uncountable Example: He pauses as I wipe the drivel from his chin. Example: He wiped drivel from his chin with a stubby forearm.
Word: drivel Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English drevelen, drivelen, from Old English dreflian (“to drivel, slobber, slaver”), from Proto-Germanic *drablijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerebʰ- (“cloudy, turbid; yeast”). Pronunciation: /dɹɪv.əl/, /dɹəv.əl/ 1. To talk nonsense; to talk senselessly; to drool. 2. To have saliva drip from the mouth. Labels: archaic, intransitive 3. To be weak or foolish; to dote. Example: This drivelling love is like a great natural, that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole. Example: driveling dotard
Word: drivel Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English drivel, probably from driven + -el, unless borrowed from an equivalent word in another West Germanic language. Compare Old Dutch drevel (“scullion”). Pronunciation: /dɹɪv.əl/, /dɹəv.əl/ 1. A servant; a drudge. Labels: obsolete Example: that foul aged drivel 2. A fool; an idiot. Labels: obsolete Example: if thou didst know what a life I lead with that drivel, it would make thee even of pity receive me into thy only comfort