prate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to talk at length in a foolish, trivial, or tiresome way

   The guest continued to prate about matters he scarcely understood.

2. 2
   noun

   foolish, trivial, or tiresomely prolonged talk

   She had no patience for the courtier's empty prate.

From Middle English praten, related to Middle Dutch and Middle Low German praten, 'to talk.' The Germanic family carried associations of idle, boastful, or deceptive speech, which remain in the dismissive modern verb and noun.

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