Prate
/preɪt/noun
To talk foolishly or at length.
Did you know?In medieval England, 'prate' was often associated with gossip, and it was believed that excessive talking could attract evil spirits!
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰreǵ-
“To break, to be broken (suggesting the idea of uttering bits of speech).”
Old English
Old English
prǣtan
“To chatter or talk excessively, often in a trivial manner.”
Middle English
Middle English
praten
“To talk idly or foolishly, often associated with birds' chirping.”
15th Century
Middle English
prate
“To speak in a foolish or boastful manner.”
Modern English
English
prate
“To engage in idle or foolish talk.”