dangle
[ dang-guhl ]
/ ˈdæŋ gəl /
verb (used without object), dan·gled, dan·gling.
verb (used with object), dan·gled, dan·gling.
to cause to dangle; hold or carry swaying loosely.
to offer as an inducement.
noun
the act of dangling.
something that dangles.
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What Is A Dangling Modifier?When you see a phrase in a sentence, and you can’t be sure which word it’s referring to, chances are it’s a dangling modifier. Having nothing to modify, the phrase just “dangles” without purpose (hence its name). Modifiers usually apply to the nearest noun to them. When writers leave out the noun or noun phrase they intend to modify, the modifier may appear to refer …
Nearby words
Idioms
keep someone dangling, to keep someone in a state of uncertainty.
Origin of dangle
1580–90; expressive word akin to Norwegian, Swedish dangla, Danish dangle dangle
Related formsdan·gler, noundan·gling·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for dangle
British Dictionary definitions for dangle
dangle
/ (ˈdæŋɡəl) /
verb
to hang or cause to hang freelyhis legs dangled over the wall
(tr) to display as an enticementthe hope of a legacy was dangled before her
noun
the act of dangling or something that dangles
Derived Formsdangler, noundanglingly, adverb
Word Origin for dangle
C16: perhaps from Danish dangle, probably of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for dangle
dangle
1590s, probably from Scandinavian (cf. Danish dangle, Swedish dangla "to swing about," Norwegian dangla), perhaps via North Frisian dangeln. Related: Dangled; dangling.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper