garble

[ gahr-buhl ]

verb (used with object)

, gar·bled, gar·bling.

1. to confuse unintentionally or ignorantly; jumble:

   to garble instructions.

2. to make unfair or misleading selections from or arrangement of (fact, statements, writings, etc.); distort:

   to garble a quotation.

3. Archaic. to take out the best of.

noun

1. the act or process of garbling.
2. an instance of garbling; a garbled phrase, literary passage, etc.

garble

/ ˈɡɑːbəl /

verb

1. to jumble (a story, quotation, etc), esp unintentionally
2. to distort the meaning of (an account, text, etc), as by making misleading omissions; corrupt
3. rare.
   to select the best part of

noun

1. 1. the act of garbling
   2. garbled matter

Derived Forms

• ˈgarbler, noun

Other Words From

• garble·a·ble adjective
• garbler noun
• un·garbled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of garble¹

1400–50; late Middle English garbelen to remove refuse from spices < Old Italian garbellare to sift < Arabic gharbala < Late Latin crībellāre, derivative of crībellum, diminutive of Latin crībrum sieve ( -elle ); probably influenced by garboil

Word History and Origins

Origin of garble¹

C15: from Old Italian garbellare to strain, sift, from Arabic gharbala, from ghirbāl sieve, from Late Latin crībellum small sieve, from crībrum sieve

Example Sentences

His voice is now shriller, the sobbing more pathetic, and the words begin to garble as he swallows water.

From The Daily Beast

As it is dangerous to garble law papers, we shall lay the document before the public just as it appeared.

From Project Gutenberg

He is of the same opinion to the end, you see, although he has been obliged to cloak and garble that opinion for political ends.

From Project Gutenberg

I had rather consult the papers for myself: for I should not garble them, taking just what suited me, but should read the whole.

From Project Gutenberg

It will put his case as it is, not as others might garble it, and will obtain the sympathy of all.'

From Project Gutenberg

He may refuse to publish improper articles, but he may not garble and misrepresent them without incurring reproof.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• misinterpret
• misquote