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grumbling

 - 3 dictionary results

grum⋅ble

[gruhm-buhl] verb, -bled, -bling, noun
–verb (used without object)
1. to murmur or mutter in discontent; complain sullenly.
2. to utter low, indistinct sounds; growl.
3. to rumble: The thunder grumbled in the west.
–verb (used with object)
4. to express or utter with murmuring or complaining.
–noun
5. an expression of discontent; complaint; unhappy murmur; growl.
6. grumbles, a grumbling, discontented mood.
7. a rumble.

Origin:
1580–90; perh. freq. of OE grymman to wail; cf. D grommelen, G grummeln, F grommeler (< Gmc)


grumbler, noun
grum⋅bling⋅ly, adverb
grumbly, adjective


1. See complain.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To grumbling
grum·ble   (grŭm'bəl)   
v.   grum·bled, grum·bling, grum·bles

v.   intr.
  1. To complain in a surly manner; mutter discontentedly: "The governed will always find something to grumble about" (Crane Brinton).

  2. To rumble or growl.

v.   tr.
To express in a grumbling discontented manner: grumbled a rude response.
n.  
  1. A muttered complaint.

  2. A rumble; a growl.


[Probably Dutch grommelen, to mutter, from Middle Dutch, frequentative of grommen.]
grum'bler n., grum'bling·ly adv., grum'bly adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

grumble 
1586, from M.Du. grommelen "murmur, mutter, grunt," from grommen "to rumble, growl." Imitative, or perhaps akin to grim.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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