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6 dictionary results for: drivel

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

driv·el

[driv-uh

l] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -eled, -el·ing or (especially British

) -elled, -el·ling.

–noun

1.	saliva flowing from the mouth, or mucus from the nose; slaver.

2.	childish, silly, or meaningless talk or thinking; nonsense; twaddle.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to let saliva flow from the mouth or mucus from the nose; slaver.

4.	to talk childishly or idiotically.

5.	Archaic. to issue like spittle.

–verb (used with object)

6.	to utter childishly or idiotically.

7.	to waste foolishly.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME dryvelen, var. of drevelen, OE dreflian; akin to draff

]

—Related forms

driv·el·er; especially British, driv·el·ler, noun

driv·el·ing·ly; especially British, driv·el·ling·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

driv·el   (drĭv'əl) Pronunciation Key
v.   driv·eled or driv·elled, driv·el·ing or driv·el·ling, driv·els

v.   intr.

To slobber; drool.
To flow like spittle or saliva.
To talk stupidly or childishly.

v. tr.

To allow to flow from the mouth.
To say (something) stupidly.

Saliva flowing from the mouth.
Stupid or senseless talk.

[Middle English drevelen, from Old English dreflian.]

driv'el·er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
drivel

O.E. dreflian "to dribble or run at the nose," from P.Gmc. *drablojanan.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

drivel
noun
1.	a worthless message
2.	saliva spilling from the mouth [syn: drool]
verb
1.	let saliva drivel from the mouth; "The baby drooled"

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Drivel

Driv"el\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Driveledor Drivelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Driveling or Drivelling.] [Cf. OE. dravelen, drabelen, drevelen, drivelen, to slaver, and E. drabble. Cf. Drool.]

1. To slaver; to let spittle drop or flow from the mouth, like a child, idiot, or dotard.

2. [Perh. a different word: cf. Icel. drafa to talk thick.] To be weak or foolish; to dote; as, a driveling hero; driveling love. --Shak. Dryden.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Drivel

Driv"el\, n. 1. Slaver; saliva flowing from the mouth.

2. Inarticulate or unmeaning utterance; foolish talk; babble.

3. A driveler; a fool; an idiot. [Obs.] --Sir P. Sidney.

4. A servant; a drudge. [Obs.] --Huloet.

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