Meaning
To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English babelen, from Old English *bæblian, also wæflian (“to talk foolishly”), from Proto-West Germanic *bablōn, *wablōn, variants of *babalōn, from Proto-Germanic *babalōną (“to chatter”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰa-bʰa-, perhaps a reduplication of Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to say”), or a variant of Proto-Indo-European *baba- (“to talk vaguely, mumble”), or a merger of the two, possibly ultimately onomatopoeic/mimicry of infantile sounds (compare babe, baby). Cognate with Saterland Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), West Frisian babbelje (“to babble”), Dutch babbelen (“to babble, chat”), German Low German babbeln (“to babble”), German babbeln (“to babble”), Danish bable, bavle (“to babble”), Swedish babbla (“to babble”), Icelandic babla (“to babble”). Unrelated to Babel.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 21 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-07-04BAEHILT
- 2026-05-26EAKCBIL
- 2026-04-14BALECIY
- 2026-03-03ABCEKLO
- 2025-12-14BVANIEL
- 2025-10-12BACEILT
- 2025-09-05ABEJLNY
- 2025-05-31LYAVEBO
- 2025-03-03BATGELV
- 2024-12-20BAPLEOW
- 2024-11-06LABEJNY
- 2024-08-23BAPLEOT
+9 earlier appearances in the archive.