| 释义 |
▪ I. babbling, vbl. n.|ˈbæblɪŋ|
[f. babble v.]
1. Incoherent talk, idle chatter, babblement.
c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 190 Preiere of holy lif..not of babelynge of lippis. 1535Coverdale Prov. x. 19 Where moch bablinge is, there must nedes be offence. 1611Bible Prov. xxiii. 29 Who hath contentions? who hath babbling? 1869Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) III. xi. 11 All this prophetic talk was but the babbling of an old man.
2. transf. Cf. babble v. 4.
1686Gentl. Recr. i. 15 Babbling..is when the hounds are too busy after they have found a good scent. 1736Swift Wks. (1841) II. 131 The little church bells shall cease their babblings. 1837Hawthorne Amer. Note-Bks. (1871) I. 59 No noise..but the babbling of the stream.
†3. ? Wavering, oscillation. Cf. babble v. 5.
c1440Promp. Parv. 20/1 Babelynge or wauerynge, Vacillacio, librillacio.
4. attrib., as in babbling-place, babbling-school, etc.
1650Sherwood, A Babbling place (where gossips meet), caquetoire. 1653Milton Hirelings Wks. (1851) 387 Bred up for Divines in babling Schools.
▪ II. ˈbabbling, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. Making imperfect efforts at speech.
1579Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 187/1 The Papists will pray in a mumbling and babling sort. 1828Scott F.M. Perth III. 85 The babbling cry of childhood.
2. Chattering, prating, foolishly talkative.
c1230Ancr. R. 100 To babelinde, and to spekefule ancren. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. iv. ii. 150 A long tongu'd babling Gossip. 1735Pope Prol. Sat. 304 Such babbling blockheads. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) II. iii. v. 71 His degradation was concealed from a babbling and censorious world.
3. transf. Cf. babble v. 4.
1588Shakes. Tit. A. ii. iii. 17 The babling Eccho mock's the Hounds. a1610Fletcher Faithf. Sheph. iii. i, Here never durst the babling Cuckow spit. 1735Somerville Chase i. 281 A lagging Line Of babling Curs. 1814Wordsw. Wh. Doe iii. 257 The scorn Of babbling winds. |