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prate

[preyt]
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verb (used without object), prat·ed, prat·ing.
  1. to talk excessively and pointlessly; babble: They prated on until I was ready to scream.
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verb (used with object), prat·ed, prat·ing.
  1. to utter in empty or foolish talk: to prate absurdities with the greatest seriousness.
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noun
  1. act of prating.
  2. empty or foolish talk.
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Origin of prate

1375–1425; late Middle English praten (v.) < Middle Dutch praeten. See prattle
Related formsprat·er, nounprat·ing·ly, adverbun·prat·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

clashboastjabbergabbleclatterdrivelbragchatutterprattletongueblabchattergabtalkyack

Examples from the Web for prating

Historical Examples

  • The groom is a prating rascal, and your maid ought to mind her own affairs.

    Davenport Dunn, Volume 1 (of 2)

    Charles James Lever

  • I will have no gallivanting, no cozening and smiling and prating and distracting.

    Desert Dust

    Edwin L. Sabin

  • And now let there be no more of this prating in mid-battle as though we were children.

  • “I am tired of thy watching and prating,” declared Francis with spirit.

    In Doublet and Hose

    Lucy Foster Madison

  • Prating like a school-boy about a summons from Miss Wardour.

    The Diamond Coterie

    Lawrence L. Lynch

British Dictionary definitions for prating

prate

verb
  1. (intr) to talk idly and at length; chatter
  2. (tr) to utter in an idle or empty way
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noun
  1. idle or trivial talk; prattle; chatter
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Derived Formsprater, nounpratingly, adverb

Word Origin

C15: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch prāten, Icelandic and Norwegian prata, Danish prate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for prating

prate

v.

early 15c., from or related to Middle Dutch praten "to chatter" (c.1400), from a West Germanic imitative root (cf. East Frisian proten, Middle Low German praten, Middle High German braten, Swedish prata "to talk, chatter"). Related: Prated; prating. As a noun from 1570s.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper