Babbles
/ˈbæbəlz/noun
Third-person singular present tense of babble; to talk rapidly, foolishly, or indistinctly.
Did you know?The word ultimately imitates early speech sounds, and English later used the same babble-family for confused talking, noisy water, and even the idea of meaningless sacred-sounding speech.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bab-
“An imitative root echoing repeated syllables in early child speech or murmuring sounds.”
Old English
English
babian
“To prattle or talk like a child; to utter confused sounds.”
Middle English
English
bablen
“To talk foolishly, chatter, or make a confused noise.”
Modern English
English
babble
“To talk rapidly and incoherently; to make a continuous murmuring sound.”
Modern English
English
babbles
“Talks rapidly and foolishly, or makes a continuous murmuring sound.”