rabble
To speak in a confused mannerTo speak in a confused manner; talk incoherently; utter nonsense
» The rabble has decapitated the king.
AlanF_US · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
3 senses(intransitive)To speak in a confused manner; talk incoherently; utter nonsense
(transitive)To speak confusedly or incoherently; gabble or chatter out
(transitive)To stir with a rabble.
Examples
4 sentencesThe rabble has decapitated the king.
Tom called the striking workers a rabble.
We are the rabble.
As when in mighty multitudes bursts out / sedition, and the wrathful rabble rave; / rage finds them arms; stones, firebrands fly about.
Origin
First attested since 1300s, from Middle English rablen (“to ramble; rave; speak in a confuFirst attested since 1300s, from Middle English rablen (“to ramble; rave; speak in a confused manner”), cognate with Middle Dutch rabbelen (“to talk; chatter; trifle”), Low German rabbeln, robbeln (“to chatter; prattle”).
From Old French roable (modern French râble), from Latin rutabulum (“a poker”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
rabbles, rabbling, rabbled, rabbledWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle