prate

[preyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), prat·ed, prat·ing.

to talk excessively and pointlessly; babble: They prated on until I was ready to scream.

verb (used with object), prat·ed, prat·ing.

to utter in empty or foolish talk: to prate absurdities with the greatest seriousness.

noun

act of prating.

empty or foolish talk.

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. 2019

Related Words for prating

clash, boast, jabber, gabble, clatter, drivel, brag, chat, utter, prattle, tongue, blab, chatter, gab, talk, yack

Examples from the Web for prating

Historical Examples of prating

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.
The Iliad
Homer
“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

(intr) to talk idly and at length; chatter

(tr) to utter in an idle or empty way

noun

idle or trivial talk; prattle; chatter

Derived Formsprater, nounpratingly, adverb

Word Origin for prate

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

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.