addle

[ad-l]

verb (used with or without object)

addled, addling 

1. to make or become confused.

2. to make or become rotten, as eggs.

adjective

1. mentally confused; muddled.

2. rotten.

   addle eggs.

addle

¹

/ ˈædəl /

verb

1. to make or become confused or muddled

2. to make or become rotten

adjective

1. (in combination) indicating a confused or muddled state

   addle-brained

   addle-pated

addle

²

/ ˈædəl /

verb

1. dialect,  to earn (money or one's living)

Other Word Forms

• addled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of addle¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English adel “rotten,” Old English adela “liquid, filth”; cognate with Middle Low German adele “liquid manure”

Word History and Origins

Origin of addle¹

C18: (vb), back formation from addled, from c13 addle rotten, from Old English adela filth; related to dialect German Addel liquid manure

Origin of addle²

C13: addlen, from Old Norse öthlask to gain possession of property, from ōthal property

Example Sentences

For 18 years, Clayton Kershaw pitched through the gamut of emotions as both a hero and a villain, moments of euphoria addled with spells of despair, picturesque summers disappearing into the wicked wilds of October.

From Los Angeles Times

An addled Daniel discovers them fighting and jumps in to protect Cherry, accidentally holding his mother under the water for too long.

From Los Angeles Times

The delayed signing policy - players arriving in waves after the Champions League damage has been done - really addles the brain.

From BBC

Though he’d been addled by the ailment, he understood that his son had managed to preserve the family business.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump, addled as he is, still understands that it's unwise to alienate his largely elderly base by attacking two popular programs they depend on.

From Salon